Ukrainian President speaks with Merkel before Putin's visit to Germany
On Thursday, August 16, President Petro Poroshenko had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to Germany, the press service of the Ukrainian President announced.
The leaders of Ukraine and Germany coordinated their positions ahead of Putin's visit. They discussed the situation in the Donbas and further efforts aimed at peaceful reconciliation.
Poroshenko reminded Merkel about the Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia and in the territories which are not under Ukraine’s control. Poroshenko stressed the need of the urgent release of Oleh Sentsov, who is still on a hunger strike.
He also raised the question of the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, which is opposed by Ukraine.
Merkel and Putin are going to meet in on August 18 in Germany. The meeting of Merkel and Putin will take place in the Castle of Mezenberg, the residence of the German government near Berlin. During their conversation, the two leaders will discuss foreign policy issues, in particular, the war in Syria, the situation in the east of Ukraine, as well as energy related topics.
Germany and Russia, together with France and Ukraine, are members of the Normandy Four group, which deals with the problems of peaceful reconciliation in the Donbas.