Merkel: progress on basis of Minsk agreement required before meeting in Normandy format

 

Merkel: progress on basis of Minsk agreement required before meeting in Normandy formatGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel considers it necessary to achieve progress on the basis of the Minsk agreements prior to a summit in Normandy format (Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany).She expressed this opinion in the course of a Saturday night telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sides confirmed their mutual intention to facilitate a peace settlement in Ukraine.According to German government representative Steffen Seibert, quoted by TASS, Merkel "welcomed intense efforts aimed at achieving mutual understanding, also undertaken by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs" of the Russian Federation, Germany, France and Ukraine.Steffen Seibert added that currently a summit in Astana or elsewhere cannot be confirmed. He also said that Merkel had held a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.According to the Kremlin's press service, the telephone conversation between Merkel and Putin was initiated by the German side.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel considers it necessary to achieve progress on the basis of the Minsk agreements prior to a summit in Normandy format (Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany).
She expressed this opinion in the course of a Saturday night telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sides confirmed their mutual intention to facilitate a peace settlement in Ukraine.
According to German government representative Steffen Seibert, quoted by TASS, Merkel "welcomed intense efforts aimed at achieving mutual understanding, also undertaken by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs" of the Russian Federation, Germany, France and Ukraine.
Steffen Seibert added that currently a summit in Astana or elsewhere cannot be confirmed. He also said that Merkel had held a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
According to the Kremlin's press service, the telephone conversation between Merkel and Putin was initiated by the German side.