(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko discussed trade and economic ties between Kiev and Minsk and the settlement process in Ukraine during a phone call on Thursday, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the evening on March 23," the Belarusian presidential press service said. "The heads of state discussed various issues on the agenda of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations," the press service said. New ways to improve trade and economic cooperation were discussed. "The sides also discussed interaction on international platforms and also the peace process in Ukraine and the assistance being provided by the Belarusian side to secure the soonest possible settlement of the conflict," press service said, according to Interfax-Ukraine. (ANSA).