The two leaders’ focus was on the situation in Ukraine and the challenges of ensuring a peaceful settlement of the crisis there. Vladimir Putin provided an extensive assessment of the situation in southeast Ukraine, stressing the most recent Russian proposals, which were discussed in the context of preparing for the planned February 11 Normandy format meeting at the highest level in Minsk.
The Presidents of Russia and the United States highlighted the importance of resolving the domestic Ukrainian crisis via political dialogue, with an immediate cessation of bloodshed, ensuring the lawful rights and interests of residents of all regions of Ukraine without exception, including the southeast.
Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama agreed to maintain contacts at various levels in the interest of reconciling the two sides’ positions and approaches regarding the situation in Ukraine.
