UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AGREE ON CEASEFIRE

Protesters have gathered in eastern Ukrainian cities, calling on the government to stop its military operations (Image: AFP) — **Protesters have gathered in eastern Ukrainian cities, calling on the government to stop its military operations.** (Image: AFP)

Paris, 3 Ramadan 1435/1 July 2014 (MINA) – The Russian and Ukrainian presidents have agreed in a phone conversation to work on extending a ceasefire between Kiev and pro-Kremlin militias, the French presidency has said.

In a four-way teleconference on Monday which also included the French and German leaders, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko agreed to work on “the adoption of an agreement on a bilateral ceasefire between Ukrainian authorities and separatists,” the presidency said.

“The leaders spoke out in favour of organising a third round of consultations between representatives of Kiev and southeastern regions,” Kremlin said in a statement, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

A ceasefire between the Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists is due to end on Monday evening. But, Ukrain’s Poroshenko has already extended the ceasefire from seven days to 10 as part of a peace plan to end the conflict that has killed more than 400 people since April.

The BBC reported that the ceasefire did not have much effect in that area.

Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in clashes in the east and a Russian state TV cameraman was also shot dead while he was reporting in the city of Donetsk.

“They have also agreed to work on the liberation of more hostages and prisoners and the organisation of “substantial tripartite negotiations,” French presidency added. (T/P09/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)