Poroshenko, Freeland agree on steps to deploy UN peacekeepers to Donbas
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland have agreed on further steps to promote the initiative to deploy a UN peacekeeping force to the entire occupied territory of Donbas, including the uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian state border.
"To promote the peace settlement, further steps were coordinated to promote the initiative to deploy a UN peacekeeping mission throughout the entire occupied territory of Donbas, including the uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian state border. Freeland also informed [Poroshenko] about close coordination of approaches with the U.S., in particular at aa meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on December 19," the press service of the head of the Ukrainian state reported after a meeting between Poroshenko and Freeland in Kyiv on Thursday.
The sides also agreed to continue to make joint efforts to free Ukrainian hostages in Donbas and political prisoners illegally held in Russia and the occupied Crimea.
Poroshenko thanked Canada for support in carrying out reforms and countering Russian aggression, a clear indication of which was the recent decision by Ottawa to include Ukraine in the Automatic Firearms Country Control List.
The sides discussed the dangerous development of the situation in Donbas provoked by the violation of the ceasefire by pro-Russian militants, including cases of shelling of civilian facilities. Special attention was paid to Russia's intentions to undermine the implementation of the Minsk agreements, in particular, by withdrawing from the Joint Center for Control and Coordination.
In addition, Poroshenko noted Ottawa's important role in promoting the Crimean resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly. Poroshenko also called on Canada to join the formation of a group of friends on de-occupation of Crimea.
The Ukrainian president congratulated Canada on the upcoming responsible mission - chairmanship of the Group of Seven, expressing confidence that Ukraine will be among the priority issues on the agenda of this important forum.
