KIEV (Sputnik) — A key element for a political settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine is security, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said at a meeting on Tuesday.
"[Security] could pave the way for further political settlement of the situation and open up the possibility for elections in these areas," the press service of the Ukrainian president said following the meeting.
According to the press service, Poroshenko expressed gratitude for Lithuania's consistent position with respect to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
Kiev launched a military operation against independence-seeking militias in eastern Ukraine in April 2014. The confrontation has claimed more than 9,100 lives, according to UN estimates.
In February 2015, Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine worked out the second Minsk ceasefire agreement to settle the Ukrainian conflict.
