RIA Novosti: Kiev Ready for Talks With Independence Supporters Anywhere – Poroshenko’s Office

KIEV, July 2 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev is ready to continue consultations with independence supporters from eastern Ukraine at any acceptable location, the Ukrainian president’s administration said Wednesday.

The Ukrainian authorities “are ready to continue consultations with the participation of the contact group at any acceptable location in order to search for ways of peaceful settlement,” said Valeriy Chaly, the deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s administration.

Representatives of independence supporters from Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Kiev government have already met twice within the framework of the so-called three-party contact group. The talks also involved Ukrainian public figures and representatives from Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Earlier on Tuesday, the authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic announced they are willing to continue ceasefire consultations with Kiev and international mediators.

The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier called for an urgent meeting of the contact group and said it would render any assistance necessary to the negotiations process.

Fighting between independence supporters and pro-Kiev forces resumed in the country’s east soon after President Petro Poroshenko said he would not extend the ceasefire previously declared as part of his peace plan to defuse the crisis in the country.

Following the president’s announcement Tuesday, Ukrainian Special Forces resumed the active phase of Kiev’s military operation in the country’s restive regions.