U.S. Vice President Biden urged  Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko to avoid escalating tensions with Russia, The White House reported.

During a phone conversation on Friday “the two leaders discussed recent tensions on the Crimean Peninsula, which is occupied by Russian forces in contravention of international law. The Vice President urged President Poroshenko to do his part to avoid escalating tensions.”

The Vice President noted that the U.S. has urged the Russian side to do the same.

Besides, both leaders reiterated their strong support for political and diplomatic means to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in particular through full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

According to the website of the President of Ukraine, the Ukrainian head of state underlined the desire of Ukraine to avoid increasing tension due to groundless accusations of Moscow.

Poroshenko commented on “ recent false statements of Russia about terrorist threat from Ukraine in the occupied Crimea were a hybrid provocation and another attempt to justify further Russian aggressive actions and massive repression in Crimea.”

In this context, it noted the importance not to allow Moscow using the situation over Crimea as an apology for the apparent failure to comply with its Minsk agreements. The parties agreed on the importance of continuing the dialogue in the Normandy format.