7 Aug 2019 11:57

Zelensky set to coordinate Normandy Four meeting date in phone calls with Macron, Merkel on Wednesday

KYIV. Aug 7 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he might have phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine and the possibility of a soonest meeting in the Normandy format.

"My first phone call of today involved the Russian president, and the second one will be with President Macron in Turkey. [...] I'd also like to have a phone call with Mrs. Merkel today, if she has time, in order to agree on an urgent meeting, so that we stop telling each other that a meeting in the Normandy format should be held this year. How many more people must die this year? I want the meeting to be held shortly," Zelensky said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Zelensky said he wanted a Normandy format meeting to be held despite the previous diplomatic agreements.

"We should treat each other in a humane manner and understand that this is very important," he said.

Zelensky did not rule out that he might cut short his visit to Turkey, which is due on August 7-8.