News from Berlin
Merkel and Putin Want Direct Talks between Kiev and the Separatists
July 15th, 2014
News from Berlin – Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin wish for the authorities in Kiev and the separatists in Eastern Ukraine to engage in “direct talks as soon as possible”. According to the two country leaders the talks should be carried out via video conference. The German Government’s Spokesperson Steffen Seibert declared that the two leaders also declared that an efficient control of the Russian-Ukrainian border and an exchange of prisoners are necessary for achieving a ceasefire from both sides.
The German Chancellor and the Russian President had met in Rio de Janeiro behind closed doors. Both of them were present in Brazil for the World Cup Final and Putin tried to persuade Merkel on the need to start direct negotiations between Kiev and the separatists as soon as possible. The German Chancellor supported the idea. Also, the two state leaders concluded that there is a need to resume the work of the trilateral contact group involving Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, and to restore monitoring activities.
Two rounds of talks had already been held in June between the representatives of separatists from Donetsk and Luhansk. The talks were facilitated by the trilateral contact group that had met to discuss possibilities of de-escalating the situation in the Donbas region.
News from Berlin – Berlin Global