Kerry, Poroshenko Discuss Sochi Talks in Phone Conversation

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed the talks, involving the US top diplomat, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Putin, Poroshenko's office said in a statement.

The talks were held on Tuesday in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi. The Ukrainian crisis, the Syria war and the Iranian nuclear program were among the top issues on the agenda.

Had frank discussions with President #Putin & FM #Lavrov on key issues including #IranTalks, #Syria, #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/KDHrXgB0oH

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) 12 мая 2015

During a telephone conversation Kerry and Poroshenko also discussed what further steps should be taken to deescalate the Ukrainian crisis and to fully implement the Minsk agreements. The Minsk deal, endorsed by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, provides a roadmap for the peaceful resolution of the civil war in Ukraine.

Apart from the truce, the agreement stipulated constitutional reforms decentralizing power, as well as granting special status to the Donetsk and Lugansk regions by the end of 2015.

Despite the agreement reached in Minsk, the Ukrainian parliament decided to postpone the extension of special status to Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions until elections are held in Donbass as according to the Ukrainian law.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president engaged in belligerent rhetoric. On Monday, he vowed to retake Donetsk Airport by whatever means necessary, although this would directly violate the Minsk deal.

During the talks in Sochi Kerry urged Poroshenko to reconsider. "What is important is to make sure that both sides are moving forward in implementing the Minsk accord in its full measure," Kerry said. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's commitment to that goal.