Presidents of France and Ukraine Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Zelensky and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss relations with Russia on Friday, April 16. On Thursday, April 15, the agency France-Presse reports with reference to the Elysee Palace.
It is clarified that the heads of state will talk about the risks of escalation, which are caused by the concentration of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader will have lunch with the French leader, after which both will have a video conference with Merkel, the agency informs.
On April 9, French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Ponsen noted that the main purpose of Zelensky’s visit is “to meet with Macron one-on-one.”
French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said on the same day that France, together with Germany, will continue to make efforts within the Normandy format to achieve full implementation of the Minsk agreements on the Donbass.
In turn, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov on April 6 expressed the opinion that Kiev does not demonstrate its intention to move away from a military settlement of the situation in Donbass.
In late March, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Merkel and Macron held talks. They discussed the situation in Donbass, the situation in Belarus, Syria and Libya, as well as the joint fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
When discussing the situation in the south-east of Ukraine, the parties confirmed that there is no alternative to the Minsk complex of measures.
Since 2014, Kiev has been conducting a military operation against the residents of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup and the new government in Ukraine. The settlement issues are being discussed in the “Minsk” and “Normandy” formats – with the participation of Ukraine, Russia, France, Germany.