The leaders of the Normandy Four format (Ukraine, France, Germany, Russia) have agreed on a joint statement, expressing their strong support for the imminent decision of the Trilateral Contact Group on August 23 to announce a ceasefire on the occasion of the beginning of the school year.

This statement by the leaders of the Normandy format following the results of a telephone conversation held on Tuesday was posted by the press service of the Ukrainian president.

"The leaders of the Normandy Four leaders agreed on a joint statement, expressing their strong support for the imminent decision of the Trilateral Contact Group on August 23 to announce a ceasefire on the occasion of the beginning of the school year," the presidential website said on Tuesday evening.

The leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany and Russia expressed their expectation that such a ceasefire would turn into a sustainable improvement of the security situation, for the benefit of the schoolchildren and for the entire civilian population in Donbas.

"On the basis of a sustainable ceasefire, the leaders committed to personally stay engaged in the further implementation of the Minsk agreements," the statement says.

Poroshenko informed of his visit to the town of Schastia located close to occupied Luhansk, and his meeting there with representatives of forward patrol base of the OSCE SMM, which is permanently based in Stanytsia Luhanska. "The president of Ukraine expressed full support to its 24-hour activity in this location," the press release says.

The Ukrainian president also called for an immediate release of all Ukrainian hostages illegally held in captivity.