Obama, Poroshenko discuss concern about new violence in Ukraine

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks while Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko (L) listens as they talk to the media during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, September 18, 2014. REUTERS/Larry Downing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama spoke to Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko on Friday about a surge in violence in eastern Ukraine ahead of a G7 summit, where leaders were slated to discuss the crisis. Obama and Poroshenko "once more called on Russia and the separatists it backs to abide strictly by the terms of the February Minsk implementation plan," the White House said in a statement. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Sandra Maler)