(VOVworld) – Russia, Germany, and France have urged Ukraine to extend the ceasefire in the eastern region that expired on Monday. The ceasefire was approved on June 20^th and extended for the first time last Friday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk in France in June 6, 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

While holding phone conversations with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Holland welcomed pro-federalization forces for freeing observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who were arrested in late May. The leaders were confident that the move would calm Ukraine’s conflict and advance the roadmap proposed by OSCE and the Geneva announcement released in mid April. The leaders hold further talks on Monday.