The leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany will hold talks Friday about the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia over the conflict in the eastern Donbass region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video released to the media on Thursday.
Zelenskiy will travel to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and they will speak with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a video conference, he said.
The meeting would lay the groundwork for a meeting in the so-called “Norman” format, he said, although he gave no indication if or when such a meeting could take place.
The “Normandy” format talks involve the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia and have not taken place since December 2019.
“… This is an important preparatory meeting for the Normandy format,” said Zelenskiy, adding that “the situation in Donbass is now under control.”
Ukraine and Russia have exchanged blame for a spike in violence in the Eastern Ukraine conflict, where Ukrainian forces have fought against Russian-backed forces in a conflict that Kiev says has killed 14,000 people since 2014.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russia of “provocative” troop build-up near Ukraine’s eastern border and annexed Crimea.
Zelenskiy also thanked Turkey for its support, saying Ukrainian tourists should visit Turkey after Russia restricts travel there.
The Turkish government said earlier on Thursday that it would not take sides in the deadlock and supported a diplomatic solution. read more
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