Putin, Merkel, Hollande Discuss Preparation of Normandy Format Meeting

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel the work in the so-called Normandy Format on Ukrainian reconciliation, including the preparation of new high-level talks, the Kremlin press service said in a statement Saturday.

"The main aspects of work in the Normandy Format were discussed, including talks of the foreign ministers and the preparation of a new high-level meeting," the statement said.

The Normandy Quartet comprises Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.

The Normandy Quartet has held several rounds of talks on Ukrainian reconciliation, most notably in February when they worked out a peace deal in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The agreement included a set of 13 steps to end the military conflict in Ukraine, including ceasefire, weaponry withdrawal, prisoner swaps and constitutional reforms.

Also Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern in talks with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Kiev-led forces shelling the Donbas civilian areas and the build-up of the Ukrainian military on the contact line.

"V. Putin expressed concern over Ukrainian troops continuously shelling Donbas civilian areas and the build-up of the Ukrainian military on the contact line," the statement said.

The Russian president also stressed the importance of Kiev and representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk establishing a direct dialogue, as well as Ukraine lifting the economic blockade of Donbass, the statement read.

Kiev’s military operation in southeastern Ukraine has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it began in April 2014, according to UN estimates.