Russian-German diplomatic spat not to affect Paris summit - Duma deputy
MOSCOW. Dec 4 (Interfax) - The negotiations in the Normandy format between the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine will be taking place regardless of the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Germany, Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee deputy head Alexei Chepa said.
Asked whether the diplomatic spat between Russia and Germany will affect the negotiations in Paris, Chepa said, "No, it won't. The Normandy format will take place."
The Normandy-format meeting to address the settlement of the conflict in Donbas is due to take place in Paris on December 9.
"This is an attempt to drive a wedge between our countries," Chepa told Interfax on Wednesday, commenting on the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Germany.
The German Federal Foreign Office said earlier in the day that it was expelling two Russian embassy employees as the Russian authorities had not cooperated enough in investigating the murder of a Georgian citizen in Berlin, despite numerous requests.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it saw this step as unfriendly and baseless and warned that Moscow would respond to the expulsion of its diplomats.