Poroshenko, Merkel exchanged views on phone on Minsk process, Russia sanctions

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a telephone conversation have discussed the extension of sanctions against Russia and the Minsk process, the Ukrainian president's press service reported on Wednesday.

"The two leaders exchanged views on the development of the Minsk process in terms of the results of the visit of the Ukrainian president to France and the continuation of sanctions against Russia," the statement reads.

In addition, Poroshenko and Merkel discussed the preparations for the NATO summit to be held in Warsaw on July 8-9.

The parties also considered the results of the quadripartite meeting of the foreign policy advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Format countries (Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia), which was held in Minsk on June 15-16.

The federal chancellor briefed the Ukrainian president about Germany's efforts to provide the EU visa-free regime for Ukrainians.