In a phone discussion on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the need to step up the search for diplomatic solutions to the worsening situation in eastern Ukraine, according to a Kremlin statement.

“In light of the seriousness of the situation,” the Kremlin said in a statement, “the Presidents underlined the necessity to strengthen the search for solutions through diplomatic channels via the foreign ministries and political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format.”

“These contacts should facilitate the restoration of the ceasefire regime and ensure progress in the settlement of the conflict in Donbass,” the Kremlin added.

In a separate call earlier on Sunday, Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed possible ways to secure immediate de-escalation