Hollande, Merkel urge Putin to rapidly implement Minsk peace deal

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to respect Minsk ceasefire accord and rapidly implement its measures to end Ukrainian crisis, French presidency said on Friday.

In a statement, Hollande's office said the two European leaders reiterated the necessity to make "progress on respecting the cease-fire and halting the use of heavy weapons, releasing prisoners and restoring economic relations between the zone controlled by separatists and the rest of Ukraine."

During a phone conversation with Putin, Hollande and Merkel also urged concrete results from four working groups that were set up on May 6 to deal with political, security, economic and humanitarian issues, adding that separatist leaders "should participate actively and constructively."

Officials from the four countries will meet in Paris on June 10 to review progress in the Minsk process, the statement added.

Despite the Feb 12 Minsk ceasefire agreement, which demanded a complete cease of hostilities, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and prisoner exchanges, sporadic clashes are still occurring. Endit