Poroshenko, Tusk discuss situation in Donbas

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and President of the European Council Donald Tusk have discussed the situation in Donbas and the need to continue the pressure on Russia because of its aggressive behavior.

Their meeting was held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

The leaders confirmed the need for Moscow to fully implement the Minsk agreements to resolve the situation in Donbas.

Poroshenko also thanked Tusk for the EU's decision to prolong economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2019.

The parties agreed on the need to strengthen international efforts to protect Ukraine's interests against Russia's illegal actions in the Sea of Azov.

At the same time, Poroshenko called on Tusk to intensify pressure on Russia for the immediate release of Ukrainian political prisoners, including Oleg Sentsov, Roman Sushchenko and Volodymyr Balukh.

The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, the president's representative on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas Iryna Gerashchenko, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly, and other official representatives.