Normandy format advisors will meet in March - German govt spokesperson

He said this at a briefing on Friday, February 11, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The next meeting at this level is scheduled for March. It should be preceded by a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group," Hebestreit said.

He called the talks of political advisors held in Berlin on February 10 "an intermediate step." He described the talks as "difficult" and attempts to bring the positions closer as "cautious". He already considers it good that politicians started to talk.

From Berlin's point of view, it is important that all participants reaffirmed their recognition of the Minsk agreements and their readiness to continue working on their implementation. "Now we need to hope that the parties will start moving forward," Hebestreit said, adding that the German side is doing everything possible to do so.

He confirmed that no higher-level meetings in the Normandy format were planned in the near future, but noted that "developments can be dynamic in some places".

The Ukrainian negotiator, the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, said the date and venue of the next meeting had not been determined yet. But at the same time, he added that the advisors "will definitely meet very soon." He also noted that the possibility of a meeting in the Normandy format at the level of foreign ministers was not discussed at the meeting, but all parties agreed on the need to work on preparations for the summit.

The nine-hour talks in Berlin on February 10 ended without the adoption of any documents.

The previous meeting of advisors took place in Paris on January 26.

op