(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) French and US Presidents, Francois Hollande and Barack Obama respectively, Monday spoke by phone to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and the efforts to get a cease-fire in that conflict, Hollande's office said.
Hollande and Obama agreed on the importance of a "Contact Group" meeting as quickly as possible and of including separatist, pro-Russian elements in that meeting.
France and Germany had called last week for a meeting on July 5 but it was not possible to arrange such a gathering at short notice.
"A lasting solution to the crisis in Ukraine can only be a political one," the statement from Hollande's office said, noting there was agreement with the US on this.
The French and American leaders "called on President (Vladimir) Putin to put pressure on the separatist so they will accept dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities and they also asked Putin to reinforce controls on the border with Ukraine to stop traffic in arms and passage by militia fighters.
Hollande and Obama also issued a call for all hostages held by the parties to be released.
France and Germany have held trilateral talks on several occasions recently with Putin by telephone, and on occasion the President of Ukraine, Petro Porochenko has been included in these conversations.
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