The four leaders welcomed the liberation of the detained observers from the OSCE mission and also saw as a positive step the consultations that took place in Donetsk on June 27 between the parties to the conflict. The conversation stressed the importance of organising contacts of this kind on a regular basis. An appeal was made to Mr Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire.

The four leaders discussed the possibility of sending OSCE inspectors to monitor checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Responding to the increasingly serious humanitarian situation in southeast Ukraine, Mr Putin stressed the need for urgent humanitarian aid for this region’s people.

Issues related to the signing of an Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union in Brussels on June 27 were also discussed.

The four leaders agreed to continue their contacts by telephone in this format.