The conversation "touched on the theme of a possible ceasefire in the area of military action in southeastern Ukraine," the Kremlin said in a statement.

It also said Putin had expressed his concern over the deaths of two Russian state television journalists, who were killed in shelling in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists near the eastern city of Luhansk.

Poroshenko expressed his condolences and assured Putin there would be an investigation and measures would be taken to protect journalists, Reuters reported.