Ukrainian, Israeli presidents speak for full implementation of Minsk agreements, immediate de-occupation of Crimea

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin have noted the need for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"The president of Ukraine has informed his counterpart about the threatening development of the situation in Donbas. The interlocutors confirmed the need for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and called for the immediate de-occupation of Crimea and the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty on the peninsula," Poroshenko's press service reported about the results of his meeting with the Israeli president on Tuesday.

"Ukraine and Israel face serious problems today. The main problem is to protect the country from the external threat… I have come here as president of the country, which fights for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity every day," the Ukrainian president said expressing the admiration for the patriotism and courage of Israeli people who defend their sovereignty each day.

Rivlin for his part thanked the Ukrainian nation for the great contribution of the Ukrainian people to the development of Israel.

Poroshenko expressed the hope that the volume of Israeli investment in Ukraine will increase and assured his counterpart of Ukraine's readiness to help Israeli companies enter the Ukrainian market.

"The two presidents confirmed mutual interest in the development of bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, tourist and humanitarian areas," the statement reads.

Poroshenko thanked Rivlin for the provision of financial and medical assistance by Israel to Ukrainians wounded during the Revolution of Dignity and hostilities in the ATO area.

The parties also noted the importance of political contacts at the highest level and spoke for keeping the dynamics of bilateral visits in the future.

Poroshenko invited Rivlin to make a visit to Ukraine in 2016.