The participants in the Normandy Quartet talks on Ukraine in Minsk have agreed on the release of all hostages within 19 days, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"An agreement has been achieved on the withdrawal of all hostages. They have to be freed within 19 days. All hostages must be freed. Fourteen days have been allotted for the withdrawal of heavy artillery and five more days for the full release of all hostages," Poroshenko told journalists in Minsk on Thursday.