Merkel and Putin Discussed the Normandy Four Meeting

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the preparation of an “emergency” the Normandy Four meeting, Interfax reports citing a message from the German government. “The conversation centeredround the preparation of a summit in the Normandy format soon,” the report said. Also during the conversation, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Putin touched upon the situation in Syria and Libya, and held “ongoing negotiations on the continuation of gas transit through Ukraine.” The Kremlin press service noted that during the conversation they confirmed the importance of strict implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the Steinmeier formula. In addition, there was a talk about the need for the separation of forces and assets in the agreed sections of the contact line at the settlements of Zolote and Petrovske. “Kyiv, under various pretexts, refuses to withdraw its units and military equipment from there,” the Kremlin said in a statement. On October 1, the tripartite contact group for Donbass conflict resolution agreed on the Steinmeier formula, as well as the separation of forces of the conflicting parties. The arrangements were supposed to facilitate the Normandy Four meeting of the leaders in Paris. The separation of forces was due to begin on October 7th. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko said that the separation of forces was frustrated due to a violation of the ceasefire by the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR. A new attempt at the separation of forces was scheduled for October 9, but it ended in failure. Kommersant