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Ukraine crisis to be top focus at Munich Security Conference

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will participate for the first time in the past four years, and is expected to highlight the Ukrainian crisis in her speech

MUNICH, February 6. /TASS/. The situation in Ukraine and the future of European security architecture in the light of the Ukrainian conflict, fight against terrorism as well as the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme are top on the agenda of the Munich Security Conference that opens on Friday.

Munich Security Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ishinger said he expected intensive discussion of the Ukrainian crisis on the sidelines of the forum, which will be attended by Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will participate for the first time in the past four years, and is expected to highlight the Ukrainian crisis in her speech. About 20 heads of state and government, as well as about 60 foreign and defence ministers will take part in the 51st Munich forum.

"The crisis in Ukraine, ongoing conflicts and the process of disintegration in the Middle East, new terrorist phenomena such as Islamic State have shown us that fundamental rules of the world order are nowadays put to the test," Wolfgang Ishinger said.