WASHINGTON
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called U.S. President Barack Obama amid a tense confrontation between the two countries over the situation in Eastern Europe.
"President Obama reiterated the need for Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements, including the removal of all Russian troops and equipment from Ukrainian territory," the White House said in a statement.
Two separate cease-fire agreements brokered in the Belarus capital of Minsk have failed to stop the conflict in Ukraine as Western powers accuse Russia of escalating the situation by sending equipment and troops in support of pro-Russia separatists.
The cease-fire agreements includes the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from combat areas, the withdrawal of all foreign-armed formations and the release of all hostages and unlawfully detained persons, as well as political reforms and decentralization in the eastern Ukrainian regions.
In addition to a series of sanctions against Moscow for what they say are destabilizing actions in the region, the U.S. and European powers recently deployed heavy arms to NATO member countries bordering Russia as a reassurance to allies. Moscow has responded by threatening the West with a nuclear buildup.
Failure to deescalate the situation in Ukraine has brought the two Cold War foes to the brink of a new Cold War.
Ukraine was not the only topic on discussion during the call as the two leaders also exchanged views on the fight against Daesh, turmoil in the Middle East and negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program, according to the statement.
