You're reading: Poroshenko, Merkel discuss upcoming meeting of ‘Normandy format’ foreign ministers over phone

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine and coordinated their positions ahead of an upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the 'Normandy Group' (Ukraine, France, Germany, and Russia)

“The Ukrainian president and the German chancellor coordinated [their] positions ahead of the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia,” Poroshenko’s press service reported.

Poroshenko told Merkel that there had been a significant escalation of violence in Donbas and an increase in the number of attacks by militants. In addition, the two officials discussed the economic situation in Ukraine and energy security issues.

As reported, a meeting of foreign ministers in ‘Normandy format’ will take place in Paris on June 23 on the initiative of France.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that Kyiv expected the meeting to bring about practical results, including the actual implementation of the Minsk agreements.