Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has spoken of the need to hold talks in the Geneva format involving the United States, the European Union, Ukraine and Russia in relation to the situation in Mariupol.

"Poroshenko reached an understanding on the need to hold talks on the Geneva format involving the U.S., EU, Ukraine and Russia," the presidential press service reports.

During his stay in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he held several bilateral meetings with international leaders and also telephone conversations with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, European Council President Donald Tusk and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

"The whole world was shaken by the horrible tragedy in Mariupol that carried away dozens of lives of Ukrainians, over 100 innocent victims, including people were wounded. Evil will be punished," Poroshenko said leaving Saudi Arabia.