The President of Russia stressed that the escalation was caused by the Kiev authorities’ violent suppressions in the Donbass region, reminding the leaders that he had sent a written proposal to Petro Poroshenko on January 15 concerning the immediate withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact between the opposing sides, which would prevent shelling of settlements and many civilian casualties. A formal answer to this proposal was received only today. Before that, large-scale military actions had commenced, resulting in a catastrophic deterioration of the situation in southeast Ukraine.
During the conversations, Vladimir Putin stressed the urgent importance of ensuring a political dialogue between the Kiev authorities and representatives from Donetsk and Lugansk, with the aim of ceasing bloodshed and facilitating the settlement of the internal Ukrainian crisis.