Interfax: Poroshenko ready for political talks on settling situation in Donbas without any additional conditions

KYIV. July 3 (Interfax) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said during a telephone conversation with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden that he was ready to start profound political talks on settling the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions without any additional conditions.

The parties have discussed further possible international efforts to support Ukraine’s position, Poroshenko’s press office said on Thursday.

Poroshenko informed Biden about the results of the meeting between the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia in Berlin and outlined his viewpoint of further steps along the agreements reached, the press office said.

“Petro Poroshenko has noted that he would be ready to return to ceasefire as soon as it is confirmed it will be observed bilaterally and amid freeing all hostages and establishing control over border under the OSCE monitoring. The president has emphasized that he was ready to start profound political talks without any additional conditions,” the presidential press office quoted Poroshenko as saying during the telephone conversation with Biden.

“Biden assured that the United States shares and supports the approach of the Ukrainian president on settling the situation in this time difficult for Ukraine and is ready to make efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine,” the press office said.

Poroshenko said thanked U.S. people and congratulated Biden with the coming Independence Day celebrated in the U.S. on July 4. “Ukraine is fighting for its independence today and knows its price,” the Ukrainian president said.

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