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Poroshenko, Merkel, Hollande agree on Normandy Four meeting on October 19 in Berlin

The news was reported by the Ukrainian presidential press service

© Mykhailo Palynchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

KIEV, October 18. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande in a telephone talk have agreed on holding a Normandy Four group meeting on October 19 in Berlin, the Ukrainian presidential press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The parties have agreed on holding a summit in the Normandy Four format on October 19 in Berlin," the statement says.

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According to the German government’s press office, Angela Merkel has invited the presidents of Russia, France and Ukraine to Berlin on October 19 for a discussion of further steps to settle the Ukrainian crisis.

"One year after the previous meeting in Paris on October 2, 2015 the chancellor invited the French, Ukrainian and Russian presidents to visit Berlin in the evening of October 19 to review progress in the implementation of the Minsk Accords since the previous meeting and discuss further steps," the statement runs.

The Elysee Palace has confirmed Hollande's participation in the talks.

"The President of the French Republic Francois Hollande will go to Berlin on Wednesday, October 19 at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for participation in a Normandy format meeting," the statement runs.

The Elysee Palace says "the talks to be held one year after the previous meeting in Paris will make it possible to assess the implementation of the Minsk Accords and discuss the process of settling the crisis in the east of Ukraine.

Earlier, Berlin said that it would be prepared to host a Normandy quartet summit if sufficient progress were achieved in implementing the Minsk Accords and the talks by national leaders would bring about concrete results.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Merkel was ready for such a meeting if it enhanced chances for progress and there emerged the possibility to move forward in translating the Minsk Accords into reality.

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