PARIS, Sept. 7 -- French President Francois Hollande on Monday invited leaders of Germany, Russia and Ukraine to meet in Paris by the end of this month to push ahead a fragile peace process aimed at ending the political crisis in Kiev.

"I will propose a meeting in Paris before the U.N. General Assembly of the United Nations (Sept. 28)," Hollande announced at a press conference.

He added top diplomats of the four countries would meet in the coming days in order to discuss the situation and prepare the upcoming summit.

"The (peace) process has moved forward. There has been progress in the last few weeks," Hollande noted.

Along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hollande brokered a cease fire deal on Feb. 12 in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, which envisaged the withdrawal of heavy weapons from rival camps and the release of war prisoners.

However, continued fighting in Ukraine's eastern region violated the peace deal and tainted prospects of reaching a lasting political alternative.