Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has had a phone conversation in the Normandy format with Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of France Francois Hollande and President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
“The parties thanked President of France Francois Hollande for his efforts within the Normandy format and expressed the hope that the given format will continue functioning after the presidential elections in France,” reads a joint press release issued after the telephone conversation in the Normandy format on April 18 morning.
The Normandy Four leaders have confirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, particularly their security and political aspects.
They commended the agreement to restore ceasefire regime on the occasion of Easter, as it was agreed at the trilateral contact group meeting on March 29, and stressed the importance of a strict compliance with the abovementioned regime.
“The leaders urged to intensify efforts to liberate and exchange detained persons based on the ‘all for all’ principle. They condemned threats to the OSCE SMM observers,” the press release reads.
