- Powers Agree On 'De-Esclating Tensions' İn Ukraine

The four-party Geneva meeting on the crisis in Ukraine has agreed on taking steps to "de-escalate" tensions.



The meeting of the European Union, the United States, Ukraine and Russia has called on all "illegal" groups in Ukraine to be disarmed and for occupied public places to be vacated.



It comes after reports of military movements in eastern cities similar to what resulted in the annexation of the Crimean peninsula last month.



'Crucial' days ahead



On Tuesday, the sides stressed the importance of stability in Ukraine, rejecting "all expressions of extremism."



"All sides must refrain from any violence, intimidation or provocative actions," Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a press conference after the meeting.



Lavrov said the monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe would play a key role in cooperating with Ukrainian authorities to implement de-escalation measures.



U.S. State Secretary John Kerry called on Russia to use its influence over armed groups in order to convince them to lay down their arms. Kerry warned of additional sanctions on Moscow if it failed to deliver.



Kerry added that the meeting heard Russia would not make any commitments to Ukraine's debt or its gas payments overdue.



Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia said the next couple of days would be "crucial" since all parties would be required to put in the effort to make tangible progress.



The crisis in Ukraine began in November after Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovych announced he would give up on a trade deal with the EU in favor of closer ties with Russia.



It was followed by mass protests that led to the ousting of Yanukovych and his government.



The situation then intensified due to an "illegal" referendum in Crimea in March and the region's subsequent annexation by Russia.



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Cenevre