February 22
19:30
2016
US President Barack Obama insisted Monday in a telephone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the need to respect the Minsk peace accords in eastern Ukraine, the White House said. Obama in particular stressed the need for Russian and separatist forces to honor a ceasefire and allow a special monitoring mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to have full access to the conflict zone, including the border with Russia, the White House said. The Minsk agreement reached between Russia, Ukraine and European powers on February 11, 2015 called for an OSCE observed ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.