German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by telephone on Wednesday about a possible summit to address the Ukrainian issue.

According to a statement by the German government, the focus of the conversation between Merkel and Zelensky was the preparation for a possible summit in Normandy format.

Both leaders agreed that the conditions for such a summit were met after the Trilateral Contact Group reached the agreement on Oct. 1 on further detachment at the contact line, the succession of local elections in eastern Ukraine and the entry into force of special status for the region.

The contact group on Ukraine on Oct. 1 agreed on a formula which envisages a ceasefire, withdrawal of troops and amnesty regarding the situation in the country's eastern Donbass region, said Martin Sajdik, special envoy for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The Normandy format summit would be attended by Merkel, Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It would be the first such summit since 2016.

The summit would attempt to end the ongoing conflict in the East of Ukraine started in April 2014, which has left more than 13,000 dead.

Merkel and Zelensky also stressed the need for an agreement to be reached quickly on future gas transit from Russia through Ukraine, according to the statement.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)