Poroshenko, Merkel discuss implementation of Minsk agreements

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements in a telephone conversation on Tuesday in the run-up to telephone negotiations in the Normandy format planned for December 30.

"Petro Poroshenko coordinated positions with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in the run-up to a telephone conversation in the Normandy format planned for December 30. [Poroshenko and Merkel] discussed the status of the Minsk agreements, pointing to the necessity of their full implementation," the Ukrainian presidential press service reported.

Poroshenko insisted that Donbas militants have been violating a ceasefire and committing acts of provocation increasingly more often, mentioning, in particular, an incident in which "the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) was fired upon."

The Ukrainian leader welcomed the EU's common decision on extending sanctions against Russia until the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

Poroshenko and Merkel also discussed progress in reforms in Ukraine and the introduction of the deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the European Union starting January 1. The Ukrainian president informed the German chancellor about "Russia's destructive decisions," i.e. the suspension of its free trade area with Ukraine, it said.

Merkel reaffirmed Germany's consistent policy of not recognizing "Crimea's annexation," the Ukrainian presidential press service said.

The Normandy Quartet includes the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine.