Zelensky, Trudeau discuss growing hostilities in eastern Ukraine

KIEV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have discussed growing hostilities in eastern Ukraine and bilateral military cooperation, the president's press service said Tuesday.

During their telephone talks, Zelensky briefed Trudeau on the growing number of ceasefire violations along the contact line in Donbas, which lead to the killing of 10 Ukrainian soldiers in less than two weeks.

Zelensky thanked Trudeau for cooperation within the framework of the Canadian military training mission UNIFIER and suggested expanding the training program for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular, increasing the number of Canadian military instructors in Ukraine.

Last week, Zelensky and US President Joe Biden discussed the mounting tension in eastern Ukraine over the phone. Their talks followed at least three high-level calls between the US and Ukrainian officials within the week.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been escalating since February and the clashes between the Donbas insurgents and Ukrainian government forces intensified despite the ceasefire secured in July last year.

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in April 2014, has claimed some 14,000 lives and left as many as 40,000 wounded.