You're reading: Poroshenko, Merkel agree to meet in Munich

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to meet during the upcoming Munich Security Conference to coordinate steps for the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas, the Ukrainian presidential press service said on Jan. 30.

Speaking with Merkel on the phone on Jan. 30, Poroshenko thanked her for Germany’s and its government’s consolidating role in the European Union’s support for Ukraine manifested in the Council of the EU’s conclusions dated Jan. 29, it said.

“The parties have discussed the situation in Donbas and the ways of achieving the peaceful resolution. Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel have spoken in favor of holding the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in the nearest time to declare immediate bilateral ceasefire, withdraw heavy armament and troops and carry out the pullback to the delimitation line. The Ukrainian president has also emphasized the importance of immediate liberation of all hostages, including Nadia Savchenko. Should the progress be achieved, the parties will stand for the continuation of dialogue in the Normandy format,” the Ukrainian presidential press service said in a statement available on its website’s English-language version.

The Munich Security Conference is scheduled for Feb. 6-8, and Poroshenko plans to take part in it.