Putin, Merkel, Hollande discuss further functioning of Normandy format

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Germany's Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Saturday, in the course of which the three leaders discussed further steps in the so-called Normandy format, including talks between Foreign Ministers and preparations for a new summit conference, the Kremlin press service said. "In the course of the conversation the interlocutors had a detailed exchange of opinions on the issues related to the local elections, which the Ukrainian authorities have scheduled for this autumn," the press release said. "Also, they discussed the main aspects of further work within the Normandy format." The ‘Normandy Four’ format is a floor on which representatives of Russia, France, Germany, and Ukraine discuss peaceful settlement of the internal crisis in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Francois Hollande said he might meet with Vladimir Putin and other parties to the Normandy format in Paris in the short term. Read more