MOSCOW, June 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama discussed by phone various aspects of the crisis in Ukraine and ways to settle it, including Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s peace plan, the presidential press service said.

“Putin stressed that stopping hostilities and starting direct negotiations between the opposing parties would be of paramount importance for normalizing the situation in the south-eastern regions,” it said. “He noted the importance of immediate resolution of humanitarian issues, including urgent aid to the affected population.”

Putin and Obama also expressed serious concern about the activity of militants from the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Russian leader stated his support for Baghdad’s struggle against the Islamic fundamentalists to restore peace and security in the country, the press service said.

The two leaders also touched upon the situation in Syria following the completion of the operation to remove chemical weapons from the country, and the Iranian nuclear program.