Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed recent breaches of the east Ukraine ceasefire by militants and the absence of progress in Kyiv's efforts to regain control over the Ukrainian-Russian border in Donbas during the latest round of their telephone consultations.
‘Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel discussed the peaceful settlement process in Donbas. The sides reiterated that the absence of sustainable progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements is putting the entire peaceful settlement plan in danger. In particular, the president reaffirmed the need to restore control over the Ukrainian-Russian border at a section, which is occupied, create opportunities for Ukrainian border guards to fulfill their functions amid OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] monitoring and provide proper technical equipment,’ according to a report published on the Ukrainian president’s Web site on Oct. 6 evening.
The Ukrainian and German leaders also noted that local elections in certain parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions must abide by Ukraine’s legislation and must proceed amid a sustainable bilateral ceasefire, a level playing field for all candidates, as well as in the presence of international observers.
Poroshenko thanked Merkel for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He said that 112 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies intended for the Donbas population had already crossed the Ukrainian border and were now heading to Kyiv.
