President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel met in Davos and, among other things, discussed ways to prevent Russia’s meddling with the presidential elections in Ukraine, and agreed to exert more pressure on Russia for release of Ukrainian hostages, presidential press secretary Sviatoslav Tseholko has said.
“Poroshenko and Merkel exchanged opinions on preventing Russia’s meddling with the presidential elections in Ukraine. Also, the parties agreed to continue their pressure on Russia so that all the Ukrainian hostages, including prisoners of war seamen be released,” he wrote on his Facebook page in the evening of Jan. 23.
The presidential press service said in a statement Poroshenko congratulated Merkel on Germany’s accession to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member on Jan. 1.
“The parties stressed the importance of the implementation of Ukraine’s initiative to deploy a peacekeeping mission [to Ukraine] under the UN auspices, which will contribute to the implementation of the Minsk accords,” the statement said.
The President of Ukraine also thanked Germany for its efforts for minimizing the risks of increasing the tensions by Russia in the Black and Azov Seas, ensuring freedom of navigation in that region, and releasing the Ukrainian naval personnel unconditionally and immediately.
“Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel discussed risks for the energy security of the EU,” the press service said.
In addition, the German chancellor “praised reforms in Ukraine and the importance to continue them.”
