Poroshenko and Putin finally shook hands: Kyiv and Moscow agreed to negotiate
Benouville, June 06 (Navigator, Victoria Litovchenko) – The newly elected President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands and agreed on ways to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.
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This was reported by the press service of French President Francois Hollande, Reuters reports.
According to the report, before lunch, Hollande and the German Chancellor initiated a conversation between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. Poroshenko and Putin held a 15-minute meeting.
Hollande's office claims that "the men shook hands and agreed to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine in the coming days."
In addition, Putin and Poroshenko discussed ways to resolve the conflict, including Russia recognizing Poroshenko's election as legitimate, as well as economic relations.
“This was a normal, serious exchange between leaders,” Hollande’s office said in a statement.
The office added that such a meeting had been prepared for several days, but was kept secret until it took place.
Before this, Poroshenko, Putin and Merkel met on the porch before lunch.
The Reuters journalist did not record the handshake between Putin and Poroshenko.
The Russian president also confirmed his communication with Poroshenko.
“On the sidelines of the official breakfast on behalf of the President of France on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy, President Putin had a brief conversation on his feet with Francois Hollande, Angela Merkel and the elected President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko,” said Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
“During a brief conversation, both Putin and Poroshenko spoke in favor of an early cessation of bloodshed in the southeast of Ukraine, as well as hostilities on both sides - both on the part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as on the part of supporters of the federalization of Ukraine,” Peskov said.
“In addition, it was confirmed that there is no alternative to resolving the situation through peaceful political means,” he noted.
Poroshenko and Putin finally shook hands: Kyiv and Moscow agreed to negotiate