Poroshenko urges Russia to withdraw its troops from Donbas for continuation of political dialogue

09:40, 24.05.2016 1 min read

During a telephone conversation in the 'Normandy Format' in the early hours of Tuesday with the participation of French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko noted the deteriorating security situation in Donbas and called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the occupied part of Donbas.

"The interlocutors agreed that strong de-escalation and a full ceasefire are needed to continue the political dialogue. The president said that Russia should withdraw its troops from the occupied part of Ukraine and stop sending arms and mercenaries there," reads a statement posted on the website of the Ukrainian president.

Poroshenko pointed to the deteriorating security situation, in particular shelling of the anti-terrorist operation forces in the area of Avdiyivka, noting that it is "a real obstacle to the progress in the peaceful settlement."