Putin: We cannot speak of ceasefire conditions

Russia’s president believes that Ukraine should negotiate a truce directly with the separatists.

Vladimir Putin commented on the negotiations with Ukraine’s president Petro Poroshenko that took place in Minsk, Korrespondent reports.

“Russia will do everything possible for the peace process in Ukraine”, - Putin claimed.

The Russian leader assessed positively the outcomes of the meeting with Poroshenko. He pointed out that Moscow, as well as Kyiv, deem it important to resume the dialogue over the gas issue. Vladimir Putin also claimed that mechanisms had been discussed of providing help to the residents of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. “I will not yet rush ahead too quick, but in any case there are certain agreements already”, - said the president of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin noted that Moscow cannot discuss ceasefire conditions with Kyiv. “We, Russia, cannot speak of ceasefire conditions, possible agreements between Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk. This is for Ukraine to do”, - Putin claimed.

The president emphasized that this topic was not discussed substantially in the course of the negotiations. According to him, discussed was the matter of what Russia could do for the negotiation process. “We can only facilitate the creation of the atmosphere of trust in the course of this possible, and in my view extremely necessary, negotiation process”, - claimed Putin.

We would remind that a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin took place in Minsk.