Poroshenko, Merkel discuss further format of Donbas situation talks
KYIV. Aug 27 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed the results of the meeting in Minsk and the further format of the international negotiations on the peaceful resolution of the situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in a phone conversation.
"Petro Poroshenko characterized the results of the multi-party meeting in Minsk as positive signals that could mark the beginning of a peaceful settlement to the situation in Donbas. Among them are the finding of common approaches to the problem of border control, specific steps taken in the sphere of hostage release, and the building of dialogue on trade relations," the presidential press service reported on Wednesday.
Participants in the meeting agreed that the logic of Poroshenko's peace plan was backed by those who took part in the Minsk meeting. "The vision stated in the peace plan may become a foundation for practical steps aimed at de-escalation, which will be proposed in the nearest future, specifically, for the work of the three-party working group involving representatives of Donbas," the report says.
"Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel also discussed the further international format for negotiations, in particular, the possibility of their extension in the Normandy or Geneva format to work on a peace settlement on the results of the Minsk meeting," the report says.