UKRAINE and Russia have agreed on a full and comprehensive implementation of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine before the end of 2019, announced leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany in Paris on Monday evening.

“The parties commit to fully implementing the cease-fire, which will be consolidated by the implementation of all necessary cease-fire support measures, before the end of 2019,” said a joint declaration issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Following the talks called Normandy Four Summit, the parties also agreed to hold another meeting in the Normandy format in the next four months, discussing “political and security conditions for local elections,” said the declaration.

Established in June 2014, the Normandy Four is a contact group for senior officials from the four countries to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine that erupted in April 2014.

Monday’s summit was the first of its kind in three years. The last was held in Berlin in 2016.

It was also the first time that Putin and Zelensky met face to face since the latter was elected president earlier this year.

Besides the cease-fire, the two sides agreed to another prisoner swap; to the withdrawal of troops from three additional locations; and to the removal of mines from the conflict zone.

Significant political problems remain. Ukraine and Russia failed to tackle crucial issues like when local elections will take place in the Donbass region or when Ukraine will regain control of its borders.  (Xinhua, CGTN)