Poroshenko, Merkel discuss escalation in Donbas and release of hostages

The leaders' meeting took place within the framework of the Fifth Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, the presidential press service reports.

"President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in the framework of the working visit to Brussels. The parties discussed the dangerous developments in the Donbas provoked by the ceasefire regime violation by Russian militants, including cases of shelling of civilian objects, as well as the situation in Luhansk," the statement reads.

In addition, the parties coordinated further steps to advance the initiative to deploy a UN peacekeeping mission throughout the occupied Donbas area, including the uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian state border.

According to the press service of the Head of State, Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel agreed to make maximum efforts to release the Ukrainian hostages in the Donbas and the political prisoners illegally detained in Russia and in the occupied Crimea as soon as possible.

The President of Ukraine stressed that the ongoing Russian aggression in the Donbas and the significant deterioration of the situation in the occupied Crimea required the continuation of the sectoral and economic sanctions against Russia.

The parties also discussed the approximate schedule of contacts in the Normandy format.

The President of Ukraine informed on the reforms introduced in Ukraine this autumn and underscored the continuation of reforming the country.

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