Steinmeier and Lavrov to discuss situation in Ukraine
The Russian and German Foreign Ministers, Sergey Lavrov and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will meet to discuss the situation in Ukraine and Syria on August 15, RIA Novosti reported, with reference to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service. On that day, Steinmeier will visit Yekaterinburg for the opening of a Russian-German summer school in the Ural Federal University. After this event, his meeting with Lavrov will take place.
“The most relevant aspects of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade-economic, cultural and humanitarian areas will be discussed. Lavrov and Steinmeier will continue the exchange of views on key international problems, including the implementation of the Minsk Agreements to settle the Ukrainian crisis and advance the peace process in Syria, European security issues and the fight against international terrorism,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
This week, relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated further after the FSB accused the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence of attempting to organize terrorist acts in the Crimea. The Ministry of Defense, the Main Directorate of Intelligence, National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine denied these accusations. On August 11, the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, ordered all divisions in administrative areas bordering the Crimea and along the whole contact line to be placed on high alert.
Russia mentioned the possibility of rupturing diplomatic relations with Ukraine and withdrawal from the Normandy Four Format negotiations for a peaceful settlement of conflict in the Donbas.