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WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine and the Islamic State by phone with U.S. President Barack Obama, the first contact between the two since February. The White House said the call, from Putin to Obama, came Thursday evening adding that Obama stressed the importance of Russia's adherence to the Minsk agreement, which calls for a cease-fire in Ukraine.
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"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," a White House statement said. Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATO Supreme Allied Commander, noted several weeks ago the continuous arrival of military supplies to contested eastern Ukraine from Russia.
A statement from the Kremlin said Obama and Putin agreed implementation of the Minsk accord will be discussed by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.
The phone call also included discussions on Syria's civil war, in which Russia has been a strong supporter of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, and of the Islamic State (IS), the Kremlin added. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry will meet to discuss IS next week.
