Poroshenko, Putin discuss release of hostages - media

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, February 13, Ukraine's Mirror Weekly newspaper has reported, citing its own sources.

According to sources, the conversation was short and was held on the initiative of the Ukrainian side due to the third anniversary of the signing of the Minsk agreements.

"The president of Ukraine held a telephone conversation with the president of Russia to intensify the release of Ukrainian hostages, in particular the exchange of captive border guards and the release of Ukrainian servicemen in occupied territories," the press service of Ukraine's Presidential Administration reported, commenting on the situation.

The sides also discussed the agenda for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Normandy Four countries, which is to be held in Munich on February 16.

"The telephone conversation was held in coordination with European partners in the Normandy format and American allies," the Presidential Administration said.

The newspaper recalls that a telephone conversation between the leaders of the Normandy Four countries last took place on July 24, 2017. It was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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