'Normandy Quartet' leaders back initiative to sign accord to withdraw under-100mm weapons and mortars

During a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to support the Ukrainian leader's initiative concerning the withdrawal of weapons with calibers under 100mm from the contact line in Donbas, Poroshenko's press service has reported.
"The participants in the conversation noted the need to ensure proper monitoring and verification of the ceasefire by the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) and supported the Ukrainian president's initiative concerning the urgent signing within the trilateral Contact Group of an agreement to withdraw tanks and cannons with caliber under 100mm, as well as mortars," the press service said.