Merkel hopes for ceasefire in Donbas by start of school year

She stated this before the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the German government’s Meseberg Castle on Saturday, August 18, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Merkel said she hoped fresh efforts could be undertaken at the beginning of the new school year to disentangle Ukrainian military forces and separatists on the front lines in Donbas region.

She stressed that the Minsk agreements remained the basis for the settlement of the situation. Merkel noted that a stable ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was still not achieved. She expressed hope that it would be possible "to make another attempt" to establish a ceasefire due to the beginning of the school year.

Germany, according to the chancellor, is ready in any case to continue to assume responsibility within the "Normandy format".

Putin, in turn, noted Russia's interest in the work within the "Normandy format" and the Trilateral Contact Group. Moscow will continue to assist the "UN special monitoring mission", he said.

In the meantime, about 20 activists held an action near the residence demanding the release of Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners.

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