You're reading: Poroshenko, Merkel discuss further format of international talks on situation in Donbas

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed by phone the results of the Minsk meeting and the further format of international negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.

“Ukrainian President Poroshenko continued telephone consultations with German Chancellor Merkel. During the discussion Poroshenko said the results of the multilateral meeting in Minsk were positive signals that can give rise to a peaceful settlement of the situation in the Donbas. They include finding common approaches to the problem of control over the border, concrete steps on the release of hostages, and the building of the dialogue on trade relations,” the presidential press service reported on Aug. 27.

The press service said that the sides had agreed that the logic of the Ukrainian president’s peace plan had found support among the participants of the Minsk meeting.

“The vision outlined in the peace plan can serve as the basis for practical steps on de-escalation, which will be offered in the near future, in particular, for the work of the trilateral working group with representatives of the Donbas,” reads the statement.

“Poroshenko and Merkel also discussed the further international format for negotiations, in particular, the possibility of their extension in the Normandy or Geneva format for work on a peace settlement after the Minsk meeting,” reads the statement.