Poroshenko, Merkel and Hollande negotiate in Kiev

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has had a five-hour meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

According to the press office of the Ukrainian president, the sides were unanimous that the conflict in Donetsk and Lugansk regions must be settled peacefully and expressed hope that Russia also wants this.

Poroshenko, Merkel and Hollande discussed ways to implement the Minsk agreements as the basis of peaceful settlement and considered common recommendations on further steps. They called for ceasing fire, withdrawing foreign troops and arms from Ukraine, closing the border and releasing all hostages.

Poroshenko urged the European leaders to help to free Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko. The sides also discussed ways to continue the Normandy format talks.