Ukraine urged to extend ceasefire

Moscow, June 30 (IANS) Leaders of Russia, Germany and France urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire that will expire Monday in a teleconference held Sunday, the Kremlin press service said.

"The leaders stressed the necessity to make such contacts regular. They called on Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire regime for a longer period," it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande also hailed the release of observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission in Ukraine, Xinhua reported.

The leaders also discussed issues related to Ukraine's signing of the association agreement with the European Union Friday in their tele conference.