Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed Saturday a possible exchange of prisoners, the Kremlin said, raising hopes that hunger-striking film director Oleg Sentsov and others could be released ahead of the start of the World Cup next week.

"Special attention was paid to humanitarian issues including an exchange of people being held" by the two sides, the Kremlin said in a statement following the rare phone conversation by the two leaders.

Putin stressed that Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine should be released immediately, the Kremlin said, adding that the conflict in eastern Ukraine was also discussed.

Poroshenko for his part stressed that Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike since May 14, and other "Ukrainian political prisoners" should be released "as soon as possible."

"The head of the Ukrainian state drew attention to Ukrainians' hunger strikes and expressed concern over their deteriorating health," his office said in a statement.

Both Moscow and Kiev said the two leaders agreed that a rights ombudsmen would visit the two countries' prisoners "in the near future". No other details were provided.

Sentsov, who is serving a 20-year sentence on terrorism charges in Russia's far north, is demanding that Moscow release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners languishing in Russian prisons.

His supporters said the father of two was prepared to die in prison, clouding Russia's chance to shine on the world stage during the World Cup which begins on Thursday.

Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, who is serving a 10-year sentence in a Russian prison after being convicted of terrorism together with Sentsov, also launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Sentsov.

He, however, halted his protest earlier this week due to his poor health.

Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also involve Germany and France.

The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine. Efforts to put an end to a four-year conflict between Ukranian government troops and pro-Russian rebels that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014 have come to a halt.

The announcement raised hopes of hunger-striking film director Oleg Sentsov and others could be released ahead of the start of the World Cup next week

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed Saturday a possible exchange of prisoners, the Kremlin said, raising hopes that hunger-striking film director Oleg Sentsov and others could be released ahead of the start of the World Cup next week. "Special attention was paid to humanitarian issues including an exchange of people being held" by the two sides, the Kremlin said in a statement following the rare phone conversation by the two leaders. Putin stressed that Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine should be released immediately, the Kremlin said, adding that the conflict in eastern Ukraine was also discussed. Poroshenko for his part stressed that Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike since May 14, and other "Ukrainian political prisoners" should be released "as soon as possible." "The head of the Ukrainian state drew attention to Ukrainians' hunger strikes and expressed concern over their deteriorating health," his office said in a statement. Both Moscow and Kiev said the two leaders agreed that a rights ombudsmen would visit the two countries' prisoners "in the near future". No other details were provided. Sentsov, who is serving a 20-year sentence on terrorism charges in Russia's far north, is demanding that Moscow release dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners languishing in Russian prisons. His supporters said the father of two was prepared to die in prison, clouding Russia's chance to shine on the world stage during the World Cup which begins on Thursday. Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, who is serving a 10-year sentence in a Russian prison after being convicted of terrorism together with Sentsov, also launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Sentsov. He, however, halted his protest earlier this week due to his poor health. Putin and Poroshenko spoke on the phone ahead of talks Monday in Berlin between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers that will also involve Germany and France. The talks are aimed at reviving a stalled peace process in eastern Ukraine. Efforts to put an end to a four-year conflict between Ukranian government troops and pro-Russian rebels that has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014 have come to a halt.

Russia and Ukraine discuss 'exchange' of prisoners: Kremlin

A topless woman activist caused a furore on Thursday as she reached the red carpet of a high-society ball in Vienna.&nbsp;

The woman burst onto the red carpet of the Opera Ball -- being telecasted live on television -- to protest the attendance of the Ukrainian President&nbsp;Petro Poroshenko at the event.&nbsp;

She reached the ball topless with only the words &quot;Poroshenko get the fuk out&quot; written on her torso.

She was seen shouting the slogans and protesting vehemently even as she was dragged away by&nbsp;several Austrian policemen.&nbsp;

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was one of several thousand guests at the Opera Ball.&nbsp;Some of the other high dignitaries who attended the ball were: Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, President Alexander Van der Bellen,&nbsp;Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, activist and former model Waris Dirie and American actress Melanie Griffith. Griffith was the guest of construction magnate and Opera Ball stalwart Richard Lugner. The 85-year-old Lugner is known for his wide network of friends. Some of his previous celebrity invitees have included Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.

Like every year,&nbsp; the Vienna State Opera opened with a dance by 150 &quot;debutants&quot;, the women in snow-white gowns and the men in white tie and tails. Making it an inclusive event, the organisers this year also gave their go-ahead to include&nbsp;performances of opera arias and ballet, with the participation of a couple with Down&#39;s Syndrome.

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She was protesting against the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's attendance at Opera Ball

A topless woman activist caused a furore on Thursday as she reached the red carpet of a high-society ball in Vienna. The woman burst onto the red carpet of the Opera Ball -- being telecasted live on television -- to protest the attendance of the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the event. She reached the ball topless with only the words "Poroshenko get the fuk out" written on her torso. She was seen shouting the slogans and protesting vehemently even as she was dragged away by several Austrian policemen. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was one of several thousand guests at the Opera Ball. Some of the other high dignitaries who attended the ball were: Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, President Alexander Van der Bellen, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, activist and former model Waris Dirie and American actress Melanie Griffith. Griffith was the guest of construction magnate and Opera Ball stalwart Richard Lugner. The 85-year-old Lugner is known for his wide network of friends. Some of his previous celebrity invitees have included Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. Like every year, the Vienna State Opera opened with a dance by 150 "debutants", the women in snow-white gowns and the men in white tie and tails. Making it an inclusive event, the organisers this year also gave their go-ahead to include performances of opera arias and ballet, with the participation of a couple with Down's Syndrome.

Topless woman protests at high society Vienna ball

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has gone on hunger strike to protest his arrest in Ukraine on charges of trying to stage a coup sponsored by Russia, his lawyer and supporters said Saturday.

Kiev police rearrested the foe of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday after an attempt to detain him earlier in the week dramatically failed when supporters swarmed the van in which he was being held.

&quot;Saakashvili has announced an indefinite hunger strike,&quot; journalist and close ally Vladimir Fedorin wrote on Facebook, in comments echoed by the former leader&#39;s lawyer Ruslan Chornolutskyi to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The 49-year-old denounced the &quot;false accusations&quot; against him, Chornolutskyi added.

Around 100 supporters of Saakashvili, the man who pulled Georgia out of Russia&#39;s orbit in a 2003 revolution before becoming a governor in Ukraine, gathered outside a security service detention centre shouting &quot;shame&quot; on Friday following his arrest.

A court hearing on the case is expected be held in Kiev on Monday.&nbsp;

Prosecutors would ask for Saakashvili to be held under pretrial house arrest, prosecutor General spokeswoman Larysa Sargan said.&nbsp;

Since Saakashvili escaped detention on Tuesday he has continued leading protests outside parliament demanding Poroshenko&#39;s impeachment over his failure to fight high-level corruption.

Saakashvili denies committing any crimes and says his actions have been peaceful and legal.

Tuesday&#39;s drama marked the latest chapter in the dizzying career of a man who spearheaded a pro-Western &quot;Rose Revolution&quot; in Georgia in 2003 and fought a disastrous war with Russia five years later that eventually prompted him to flee the Caucasus country.

Saakashvili returned to the spotlight as a vocal champion of the three-month street uprising in Kiev that toppled a Moscow-backed government in 2014 and turned Ukraine on a pro-EU course.

Poroshenko rewarded Saakashvili for his efforts by appointing him governor of the important Black Sea region of Odessa in 2015.

But an ugly falling out between the two men saw Saakashvili stripped of his Ukrainian passport -- only for him to defy the authorities and force his way back into the conflict-riven country with the help of supporters in September.

Kiev police rearrested Mikheil Saakashvili on Friday

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has gone on hunger strike to protest his arrest in Ukraine on charges of trying to stage a coup sponsored by Russia, his lawyer and supporters said Saturday. Kiev police rearrested the foe of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday after an attempt to detain him earlier in the week dramatically failed when supporters swarmed the van in which he was being held. "Saakashvili has announced an indefinite hunger strike," journalist and close ally Vladimir Fedorin wrote on Facebook, in comments echoed by the former leader's lawyer Ruslan Chornolutskyi to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. The 49-year-old denounced the "false accusations" against him, Chornolutskyi added. Around 100 supporters of Saakashvili, the man who pulled Georgia out of Russia's orbit in a 2003 revolution before becoming a governor in Ukraine, gathered outside a security service detention centre shouting "shame" on Friday following his arrest. A court hearing on the case is expected be held in Kiev on Monday. Prosecutors would ask for Saakashvili to be held under pretrial house arrest, prosecutor General spokeswoman Larysa Sargan said. Since Saakashvili escaped detention on Tuesday he has continued leading protests outside parliament demanding Poroshenko's impeachment over his failure to fight high-level corruption. Saakashvili denies committing any crimes and says his actions have been peaceful and legal. Tuesday's drama marked the latest chapter in the dizzying career of a man who spearheaded a pro-Western "Rose Revolution" in Georgia in 2003 and fought a disastrous war with Russia five years later that eventually prompted him to flee the Caucasus country. Saakashvili returned to the spotlight as a vocal champion of the three-month street uprising in Kiev that toppled a Moscow-backed government in 2014 and turned Ukraine on a pro-EU course. Poroshenko rewarded Saakashvili for his efforts by appointing him governor of the important Black Sea region of Odessa in 2015. But an ugly falling out between the two men saw Saakashvili stripped of his Ukrainian passport -- only for him to defy the authorities and force his way back into the conflict-riven country with the help of supporters in September.

Ex-Georgian president Saakashvili on hunger strike after Ukraine arrest

A sudden surge in clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels killed at least seven people on Monday despite a tattered truce in Ukraine&#39;s war-scarred east.

The overall death toll reported for the past two days rose to 12 after the bloodiest outburst of violence since the former Soviet republic and its foes last month agreed an &quot;indefinite&quot; ceasefire.

The fighting came as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to step up economic sanctions against Moscow, and fears grew in Kiev that US support could wane should President Donald Trump draw closer to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

But Poroshenko cut short his visit to Berlin after hearing news of the deaths, his spokesman told AFP.

&quot;Since Sunday, there have been continuing clashes and heavy attacks on our positions,&quot; Ukraine&#39;s 72nd army brigade spokeswoman Olena Mokrynchuk told AFP.

The military in Kiev said three of its soldiers had died overnight.

An AFP reporter in the town of Avdiivka near the de facto rebel capital Donetsk saw Kiev troops capture three rebels on Monday. Two of them later died of their wounds.

The electricity has been off since Sunday and water supplies are sporadic in Avdiivka amid the shelling and gunfire.

The separatists also reported two civilians deaths from Ukrainian fire around Donetsk.

The bloodshed put at risk yet another attempt by exasperated mediators to end one of Europe&#39;s bloodiest conflicts since the 1990s Balkans wars.The violence coincided with Poroshenko&#39;s visit to Berlin to meet ally Merkel -- the German leader who along with French President Francois Hollande helped hammer out a 2015 peace deal in the Belarusian capital Minsk that has failed to achieve results.

&quot;We are certain that today we need decisive and united action that can motivate Russia to sit at the negotiating table and fully implement the Minsk agreements -- particularly its security component -- to stop civilians from dying,&quot; Poroshenko said in Berlin before entering the meeting.

&quot;We believe that not only should the sanctions be maintained, but they should be intensified as well,&quot; he added.

Merkel said she found the situation &quot;worrying&quot; but gave no indication on whether she intended to add to the pressure on Putin.

The east of Ukraine comprises coal mines and steel mills whose possession is coveted by both sides of the war, which broke out in April 2014.

The clashes started in the Russian-border regions of Donetsk and Lugansk after a February 2014 revolution ousted Ukraine&#39;s Moscow-backed leader and put Kiev on a pro-Western course.

The sides have since agreed to a series of temporary ceasefires and an &quot;indefinite&quot; one on December 23, but none have been respected.

The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people -- more than half of them civilians -- and plunged Moscow`s relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.

Russia denies backing the insurgents and only admits that &quot;volunteers&quot; and off duty soldiers had entered the war zone of their own free will.

(AFP)

Death toll in the violence rose to 12 even as Ukraine's President, on a visit to Germany, pressed for more sanctions against Moscow

A sudden surge in clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels killed at least seven people on Monday despite a tattered truce in Ukraine's war-scarred east. The overall death toll reported for the past two days rose to 12 after the bloodiest outburst of violence since the former Soviet republic and its foes last month agreed an "indefinite" ceasefire. The fighting came as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to step up economic sanctions against Moscow, and fears grew in Kiev that US support could wane should President Donald Trump draw closer to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But Poroshenko cut short his visit to Berlin after hearing news of the deaths, his spokesman told AFP. "Since Sunday, there have been continuing clashes and heavy attacks on our positions," Ukraine's 72nd army brigade spokeswoman Olena Mokrynchuk told AFP. The military in Kiev said three of its soldiers had died overnight. An AFP reporter in the town of Avdiivka near the de facto rebel capital Donetsk saw Kiev troops capture three rebels on Monday. Two of them later died of their wounds. The electricity has been off since Sunday and water supplies are sporadic in Avdiivka amid the shelling and gunfire. The separatists also reported two civilians deaths from Ukrainian fire around Donetsk. The bloodshed put at risk yet another attempt by exasperated mediators to end one of Europe's bloodiest conflicts since the 1990s Balkans wars.The violence coincided with Poroshenko's visit to Berlin to meet ally Merkel -- the German leader who along with French President Francois Hollande helped hammer out a 2015 peace deal in the Belarusian capital Minsk that has failed to achieve results. "We are certain that today we need decisive and united action that can motivate Russia to sit at the negotiating table and fully implement the Minsk agreements -- particularly its security component -- to stop civilians from dying," Poroshenko said in Berlin before entering the meeting. "We believe that not only should the sanctions be maintained, but they should be intensified as well," he added. Merkel said she found the situation "worrying" but gave no indication on whether she intended to add to the pressure on Putin. The east of Ukraine comprises coal mines and steel mills whose possession is coveted by both sides of the war, which broke out in April 2014. The clashes started in the Russian-border regions of Donetsk and Lugansk after a February 2014 revolution ousted Ukraine's Moscow-backed leader and put Kiev on a pro-Western course. The sides have since agreed to a series of temporary ceasefires and an "indefinite" one on December 23, but none have been respected. The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people -- more than half of them civilians -- and plunged Moscow`s relations with the West to a post-Cold War low. Russia denies backing the insurgents and only admits that "volunteers" and off duty soldiers had entered the war zone of their own free will. (AFP)

Ukraine: Fresh violence erupts between govt forces and Russia-backed rebels as month-long truce frays

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday welcomed International Monetary Fund &#39;s (IMF) decision to release additional aid worth $1 billion to the strife-torn country. The aid package had been held up in part on corruption concerns.&nbsp; 
 
Poroshenko said IMF&#39;s approval to release the funds showed that the world recognises that Ukraine was carrying out reforms. 
 
The $17.5 billion program is intended to help stabilise the country after the 2014 ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Kiev had been waiting for the release of the lending since August last year.&nbsp; 
 
Stressing that&nbsp;a Russian attempt to undermine the IMF&#39;s decision had failed, Poroshenko said that the aid would also help keep the Ukrainian hryvnia currency stable and maintain macroeconomic stabilisation.&nbsp; 
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<h5>IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said Ukraine had shown &quot;welcome signs of recovery&quot; despite long odds, with inflation receding and activity rising.</h5>
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&quot;...the Fund&#39;s resolution has sent a signal to the aggressor, who has tried to throw sand in our wheels even at the (IMF) board meeting. Russia&#39;s attempts to undermine the solidarity of the IMF with Ukraine, and to disrupt the decision on this tranche have failed. The Kremlin lost in this operation. Reforms make us stronger. At the same time, our ability to withstand external aggression has became stronger,&quot; Poroshenko was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
The country has suffered deep economic decline after two years of war, with GDP contracting 9.9 per cent in 2015. Wednesday&#39;s decision by the IMF Executive Board brings the total amount disbursed to about $7.62 billion, the Fund said in a statement, according to AFP.&nbsp; 
 
Despite Ukraine&#39;s failure to meet several program targets, including on limiting debt, boosting reserves and easing foreign exchange restrictions, the Fund&#39;s Executive Board said it approved the disbursement.&nbsp; 
 
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said Ukraine had shown &quot;welcome signs of recovery&quot; despite long odds, with inflation receding and activity rising. 
 
&quot;While the social and economic cost of the crisis has been high, growth is expected to be higher in the period ahead,&quot; she said, however, Lagarde pointed out that the progress was far from recovery.&nbsp; 
 
The $1 billion approved on Wednesday was short of the $1.6 billion expected in the latest tranche of lending but the Fund did not explain the difference. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The $17.5 billion program was intended to help stabilise the country following the 2014 ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday welcomed International Monetary Fund 's (IMF) decision to release additional aid worth $1 billion to the strife-torn country. The aid package had been held up in part on corruption concerns. Poroshenko said IMF's approval to release the funds showed that the world recognises that Ukraine was carrying out reforms. The $17.5 billion program is intended to help stabilise the country after the 2014 ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Kiev had been waiting for the release of the lending since August last year. Stressing that a Russian attempt to undermine the IMF's decision had failed, Poroshenko said that the aid would also help keep the Ukrainian hryvnia currency stable and maintain macroeconomic stabilisation. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said Ukraine had shown "welcome signs of recovery" despite long odds, with inflation receding and activity rising. "...the Fund's resolution has sent a signal to the aggressor, who has tried to throw sand in our wheels even at the (IMF) board meeting. Russia's attempts to undermine the solidarity of the IMF with Ukraine, and to disrupt the decision on this tranche have failed. The Kremlin lost in this operation. Reforms make us stronger. At the same time, our ability to withstand external aggression has became stronger," Poroshenko was quoted as saying by Reuters. The country has suffered deep economic decline after two years of war, with GDP contracting 9.9 per cent in 2015. Wednesday's decision by the IMF Executive Board brings the total amount disbursed to about $7.62 billion, the Fund said in a statement, according to AFP. Despite Ukraine's failure to meet several program targets, including on limiting debt, boosting reserves and easing foreign exchange restrictions, the Fund's Executive Board said it approved the disbursement. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said Ukraine had shown "welcome signs of recovery" despite long odds, with inflation receding and activity rising. "While the social and economic cost of the crisis has been high, growth is expected to be higher in the period ahead," she said, however, Lagarde pointed out that the progress was far from recovery. The $1 billion approved on Wednesday was short of the $1.6 billion expected in the latest tranche of lending but the Fund did not explain the difference. (WION with inputs from agencies)

IMF resumes bailout for war-torn Ukraine after long delay, releases  $1 billion

US Vice President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a phone call urged a speedy resolution to the conflict with pro-Russian separatists amid a spike in tensions with Moscow, the White House said late on Friday. 
 
Biden and Poroshenko &quot;expressed concern over the recent surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, where ceasefire violations by combined Russian-separatist forces are at their highest levels since 2015, often using heavy weapons&quot;, the White House statement read. 
 
Kiev and the West accuse Russia of supporting the separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine and deploying troops across the border,&nbsp;claims hatMoscow denies. 
 
Biden and Poroshenko &quot;reiterated the need for a political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict through full implementation of the Minsk agreements by all parties,&quot; the statement added. 
 
The Minsk accord, signed in February 2015 with French and German mediation and in the presence of President Vladimir Putin, calls for a ceasefire along with a range of political, economic and social measures to end the conflict. 
 
Biden told Poroshenko that US officials &quot;had sent a message to Russia that the world is watching and underscored the need to deescalate the situation.&quot; 
 
He also urged Ukraine to show restraint. 
 
Poroshenko on Thursday said he could not rule out a &quot;full-scale&quot; Russian invasion as violence raged in the east, amid accusations that Russia was building up its military force in the region. 
 
The Pentagon on Friday said that the extra Russian troops along the border were associated with a regular military exercise. 
 
Poroshenko&#39;s claim came after Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out last week at Kiev over an incident on the frontier between Crimea, which Moscow annexed in March 2014, and Ukraine, accusing it of &quot;practicing terror&quot;. 
 
Two Russian officers were killed in the incident, in which Ukraine denied any involvement. 
 
Putin on Friday visited Crimea to boost security measures there. It was his fifth visit to the Black Sea peninsula since annexing it from Ukraine. 
 
Separately, Biden and Poroshenko discussed conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for disbursing the next tranche of much-needed financial assistance, the White House said. 
 
They also &quot;agreed on the importance of recent Ukrainian efforts to continue critical anti-corruption reforms&quot;, the statement said.

(AFP) 
 
 
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Kiev, the West accuse Russia of supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine and deploying troops across the border, claims that Russia denies

US Vice President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a phone call urged a speedy resolution to the conflict with pro-Russian separatists amid a spike in tensions with Moscow, the White House said late on Friday. Biden and Poroshenko "expressed concern over the recent surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, where ceasefire violations by combined Russian-separatist forces are at their highest levels since 2015, often using heavy weapons", the White House statement read. Kiev and the West accuse Russia of supporting the separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine and deploying troops across the border, claims hatMoscow denies. Biden and Poroshenko "reiterated the need for a political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict through full implementation of the Minsk agreements by all parties," the statement added. The Minsk accord, signed in February 2015 with French and German mediation and in the presence of President Vladimir Putin, calls for a ceasefire along with a range of political, economic and social measures to end the conflict. Biden told Poroshenko that US officials "had sent a message to Russia that the world is watching and underscored the need to deescalate the situation." He also urged Ukraine to show restraint. Poroshenko on Thursday said he could not rule out a "full-scale" Russian invasion as violence raged in the east, amid accusations that Russia was building up its military force in the region. The Pentagon on Friday said that the extra Russian troops along the border were associated with a regular military exercise. Poroshenko's claim came after Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out last week at Kiev over an incident on the frontier between Crimea, which Moscow annexed in March 2014, and Ukraine, accusing it of "practicing terror". Two Russian officers were killed in the incident, in which Ukraine denied any involvement. Putin on Friday visited Crimea to boost security measures there. It was his fifth visit to the Black Sea peninsula since annexing it from Ukraine. Separately, Biden and Poroshenko discussed conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for disbursing the next tranche of much-needed financial assistance, the White House said. They also "agreed on the importance of recent Ukrainian efforts to continue critical anti-corruption reforms", the statement said. (AFP)

US, Ukraine discuss resolution of conflict with pro-Russian separatists