Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine`s Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed the conflict in eastern Ukraine and both expressed support for a ceasefire that starts on July 27, their offices said on Sunday.

Ukrainian, Russian and OSCE negotiators agreed on a full ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine from late July, putting on hold the military conflict that claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014.

"The leaders agreed on the need for an urgent implementation of extra measures to support the ceasefire regime in Donbass," Zelenskiy`s office said, referring to eastern Ukraine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-russian-navy-to-get-hypersonic-nuclear-strike-weapons-316099">Also read:&nbsp;Putin says Russian Navy to get hypersonic nuclear strike weapons</a>

Zelenskiy came to power last year promising to end the conflict. Since then, Ukraine and Russia have implemented some confidence-building measures, including prisoner swaps and phased troop withdrawals in designated areas.

Putin told Zelenskiy in a phone call that Ukraine`s decision to hold regional elections in 2020 contradicts the Minsk peace accords aimed at resolving the conflict.

Kyiv plans to hold local elections in October across the country apart from breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 
Zelenskiy`s office said the Ukrainian president told Putin that further steps were needed to free Ukrainian citizens being held in eastern Ukraine, Crimea and Russia.

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Ukraine and Russia have been foes since 2014, when Moscow seized Ukraine`s Crimea peninsula and backed the rebellion in the east. Major combat ended with a ceasefire agreed in the Belarus capital Minsk in 2015, but sporadic clashes still regularly kill civilians, Ukrainian soldiers and separatists.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine`s Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed the conflict in eastern Ukraine and both expressed support for a ceasefire that starts on July 27, their offices said on Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine`s Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed the conflict in eastern Ukraine and both expressed support for a ceasefire that starts on July 27, their offices said on Sunday. Ukrainian, Russian and OSCE negotiators agreed on a full ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine from late July, putting on hold the military conflict that claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014. "The leaders agreed on the need for an urgent implementation of extra measures to support the ceasefire regime in Donbass," Zelenskiy`s office said, referring to eastern Ukraine. Also read: Putin says Russian Navy to get hypersonic nuclear strike weapons Zelenskiy came to power last year promising to end the conflict. Since then, Ukraine and Russia have implemented some confidence-building measures, including prisoner swaps and phased troop withdrawals in designated areas. Putin told Zelenskiy in a phone call that Ukraine`s decision to hold regional elections in 2020 contradicts the Minsk peace accords aimed at resolving the conflict. Kyiv plans to hold local elections in October across the country apart from breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Zelenskiy`s office said the Ukrainian president told Putin that further steps were needed to free Ukrainian citizens being held in eastern Ukraine, Crimea and Russia. Also watch: Russia honors its sailors on the Navy day, President Putin opens the Navy day parade Ukraine and Russia have been foes since 2014, when Moscow seized Ukraine`s Crimea peninsula and backed the rebellion in the east. Major combat ended with a ceasefire agreed in the Belarus capital Minsk in 2015, but sporadic clashes still regularly kill civilians, Ukrainian soldiers and separatists.

Putin, Zelenskiy discuss conflict in eastern Ukraine on eve of ceasefire

As tensions between<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-says-russia-rams-navy-tugboat-off-crimea-179358"> Ukraine and Russia continued</a> to simmer, US President Trump said he wasn't happy about it.

Russian President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-president-signs-decree-to-introduce-martial-law-amid-tensions-with-russia-179605">Vladimir Putin expressed</a> "serious concern" on the current Ukraine-Russia situation. Putin called German Chancellor Angela Merkel and requested her to intervene.

"We do not like what's happening, either way we don't like what's happening and hopefully they'll get straight," the US president said, adding, "I know Europe is not they are not thrilled, they're working on it too."

"We're all working on it together," Trump said.

The situation turned into an ugly spat after Russia refused to return the two armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat which was involved in a skirmish with the Russian Navy. &nbsp;

President Petro Poroshenko on Monday pressed for a decree to impose martial law in the country, a move which was backed by Ukrainian lawmakers today.

The martial law will be imposed for the next 30 days in areas vulnerable to attack by Russia. Relations between the two countries nosedived after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 setting off a cold war-like situation.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called Russia to free Ukrainian ships and sailors while emphasising freedom of navigation for Ukraine in the sea of Azov and Kerch Strait. 
&nbsp; 
"There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel," Stoltenberg said.

Ukraine has put its military on high alert after its ships were involved in a clash in the Sea of Azov. Kiev has urged Western nations to consider further sanctions against Moscow.

Russia, on the other hand, has reiterated that Ukraine provoked the situation by entering its territory. Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea Sea of Azov on Monday even as tensions continued to boil. Russian jet fighters flew over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula&nbsp;

Kerch Strait links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, dividing Crimea from southern Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Ukrainian vessels of illegally intruding into Russian territorial waters and of ignoring attempts by Russian border guards to contact them.&nbsp;

As tensions between Ukraine and Russia continued to simmer, US President Trump said he wasn't happy about it. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed "serious concern" on the current Ukraine-Russia situation.

As tensions between Ukraine and Russia continued to simmer, US President Trump said he wasn't happy about it. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed "serious concern" on the current Ukraine-Russia situation. Putin called German Chancellor Angela Merkel and requested her to intervene. "We do not like what's happening, either way we don't like what's happening and hopefully they'll get straight," the US president said, adding, "I know Europe is not they are not thrilled, they're working on it too." "We're all working on it together," Trump said. The situation turned into an ugly spat after Russia refused to return the two armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat which was involved in a skirmish with the Russian Navy. President Petro Poroshenko on Monday pressed for a decree to impose martial law in the country, a move which was backed by Ukrainian lawmakers today. The martial law will be imposed for the next 30 days in areas vulnerable to attack by Russia. Relations between the two countries nosedived after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 setting off a cold war-like situation. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called Russia to free Ukrainian ships and sailors while emphasising freedom of navigation for Ukraine in the sea of Azov and Kerch Strait. "There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel," Stoltenberg said. Ukraine has put its military on high alert after its ships were involved in a clash in the Sea of Azov. Kiev has urged Western nations to consider further sanctions against Moscow. Russia, on the other hand, has reiterated that Ukraine provoked the situation by entering its territory. Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea Sea of Azov on Monday even as tensions continued to boil. Russian jet fighters flew over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula Kerch Strait links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, dividing Crimea from southern Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Ukrainian vessels of illegally intruding into Russian territorial waters and of ignoring attempts by Russian border guards to contact them.

Watch: Don't like Russia-Ukraine situation, Europe and US working on it, says Trump

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nato-calls-emergency-meeting-over-russia-ukraine-standoff-at-sea-of-azov-179555"> today signed a decree to introduce </a>martial law for 60 days, a statement on his website said.

The move comes after tensions escalated over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-says-russia-rams-navy-tugboat-off-crimea-179358">Russia's capture of Ukranian ships</a> accusing its neighbour of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov. Ukraine's military is on high alert over the incident.

The Ukranian president's martial law decree, however, needs parliamentary approval.

Meanwhile, Britain condemned Russia's "act of aggression" against Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea.

Russia on its part ignored Western calls to release three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews it captured near Crimea on Sunday. The Russian foreign ministry blamed Ukraine for the current crisis.

"It's obvious that this painstakingly thought-through and planned provocation was aimed at igniting another source of tension in the region in order to create a pretext to ramp up sanctions against Russia," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We'd like to warn the Ukrainian side that the policy of provoking a conflict with Russia in the area of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, which has been pursued by Kiev in coordination with the United States and the European Union, is fraught with serious consequences," it added.

The United States said Russia was involved in "outlaw actions" in the Sea of Azov.

"The United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia. But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible," US ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council.

Ukraine and Russia have been in a state of uneasy peace after the Russian military annexed Crimea in 2014.

Russia's Interfax news agency reported that 24 Ukrainian sailors were detained and at least three were wounded in the clash with the Russians over the weekend.

The Sea of Azov has become the latest bone of contention between the two countries after Russia built a bridge connecting Russia's Krasnodar to Crimea. Ukrainian vessels have to tiptoe across Russian ships from the Black Sea through the bottleneck of the Kerch Strait and into the Azov Sea to reach Ukrainian ports.&nbsp;

A bilateral treaty signed in 2003 had given both Russia and Ukraine the right to access the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today signed a decree to introduce martial law for 60 days, a statement on his website said. The move comes after tensions escalated over Russia's capture of Ukranian ships accusing its neighbour of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today signed a decree to introduce martial law for 60 days, a statement on his website said. The move comes after tensions escalated over Russia's capture of Ukranian ships accusing its neighbour of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov. Ukraine's military is on high alert over the incident. The Ukranian president's martial law decree, however, needs parliamentary approval. Meanwhile, Britain condemned Russia's "act of aggression" against Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea. Russia on its part ignored Western calls to release three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews it captured near Crimea on Sunday. The Russian foreign ministry blamed Ukraine for the current crisis. "It's obvious that this painstakingly thought-through and planned provocation was aimed at igniting another source of tension in the region in order to create a pretext to ramp up sanctions against Russia," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. "We'd like to warn the Ukrainian side that the policy of provoking a conflict with Russia in the area of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, which has been pursued by Kiev in coordination with the United States and the European Union, is fraught with serious consequences," it added. The United States said Russia was involved in "outlaw actions" in the Sea of Azov. "The United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia. But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible," US ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council. Ukraine and Russia have been in a state of uneasy peace after the Russian military annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia's Interfax news agency reported that 24 Ukrainian sailors were detained and at least three were wounded in the clash with the Russians over the weekend. The Sea of Azov has become the latest bone of contention between the two countries after Russia built a bridge connecting Russia's Krasnodar to Crimea. Ukrainian vessels have to tiptoe across Russian ships from the Black Sea through the bottleneck of the Kerch Strait and into the Azov Sea to reach Ukrainian ports. A bilateral treaty signed in 2003 had given both Russia and Ukraine the right to access the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine president signs decree to introduce martial law amid tensions with Russia

Vladimir Putin summoned his security council and the Russian Navy announced war games in the Black Sea a day after the Russian president accused Ukraine of trying to provoke a conflict over Crimea, which Moscow seized and annexed in 2014. 
 
The belligerent posture heightened worries in Ukraine that Russia may plan to ramp up fighting in a war between Kiev and pro-Russian eastern separatists that had been de-escalated by a shaky peace process. 
 
Using some of his most aggressive rhetoric against Kiev since the height of the war two years ago, Putin has pledged to take counter-measures against Ukraine, which he accused of sending saboteurs into Crimea to carry out terrorist acts. 
 
Ukraine has called the accusations false and says they look like a pretext for Russia to escalate hostilities. Such an escalation could be used by Putin to demand better terms in the Ukraine peace process, or to inflame nationalist passions at home ahead of Russian parliamentary elections next month. 
 
The Russian leader met his top military and intelligence service brass on Thursday and reviewed &quot;scenarios for counter-terrorism security measures along the land border, offshore and in Crimean air space&quot;, the Kremlin said. 
 
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he had ordered all Ukrainian units near Crimea and in eastern Ukraine onto the highest state of combat readiness. He was seeking to urgently speak to Putin, the leaders of France and Germany, US Vice President Joe Biden and European Council President Donald Tusk. 
 
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the United States was extremely concerned and called on both sides to reduce tension and rhetoric. 
 
In New York, the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting at Ukraine&#39;s request to discuss the growing tensions. 
 
Ukrainian UN Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko warned that Russia had amassed more than 40,000 troops in the region and said the build-up could reflect &quot;very bad intentions&quot;. 
 
Oleh Slobodyan, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border guards, said he had observed an uptick in Russian military activity in northern Crimea in recent days after heavier fighting in eastern Ukraine. 
 
&quot;These troops are coming with more modern equipment and there are air assault units,&quot; he told a news briefing in Kiev. 
 
The Russian Defence Ministry said its navy, whose Black Sea Fleet is based in Crimea would start to hold exercises in the area to practice repelling underwater attacks by saboteurs. 
 
There were reports on Thursday evening that the authorities had cut off Internet access in northern Crimea close to Ukraine. 
 
(Reuters)

Putin has pledged to take counter-measures against Ukraine, which he accused of sending saboteurs into Crimea to carry out terrorist acts

Vladimir Putin summoned his security council and the Russian Navy announced war games in the Black Sea a day after the Russian president accused Ukraine of trying to provoke a conflict over Crimea, which Moscow seized and annexed in 2014. The belligerent posture heightened worries in Ukraine that Russia may plan to ramp up fighting in a war between Kiev and pro-Russian eastern separatists that had been de-escalated by a shaky peace process. Using some of his most aggressive rhetoric against Kiev since the height of the war two years ago, Putin has pledged to take counter-measures against Ukraine, which he accused of sending saboteurs into Crimea to carry out terrorist acts. Ukraine has called the accusations false and says they look like a pretext for Russia to escalate hostilities. Such an escalation could be used by Putin to demand better terms in the Ukraine peace process, or to inflame nationalist passions at home ahead of Russian parliamentary elections next month. The Russian leader met his top military and intelligence service brass on Thursday and reviewed "scenarios for counter-terrorism security measures along the land border, offshore and in Crimean air space", the Kremlin said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he had ordered all Ukrainian units near Crimea and in eastern Ukraine onto the highest state of combat readiness. He was seeking to urgently speak to Putin, the leaders of France and Germany, US Vice President Joe Biden and European Council President Donald Tusk. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the United States was extremely concerned and called on both sides to reduce tension and rhetoric. In New York, the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting at Ukraine's request to discuss the growing tensions. Ukrainian UN Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko warned that Russia had amassed more than 40,000 troops in the region and said the build-up could reflect "very bad intentions". Oleh Slobodyan, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border guards, said he had observed an uptick in Russian military activity in northern Crimea in recent days after heavier fighting in eastern Ukraine. "These troops are coming with more modern equipment and there are air assault units," he told a news briefing in Kiev. The Russian Defence Ministry said its navy, whose Black Sea Fleet is based in Crimea would start to hold exercises in the area to practice repelling underwater attacks by saboteurs. There were reports on Thursday evening that the authorities had cut off Internet access in northern Crimea close to Ukraine. (Reuters)

Russia announces war games after accusing Ukraine of terrorist plot