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Putin, Merkel, Hollande, Poroshenko start talks on situation in Ukraine

The possibility of holding new direct talks between the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine was in question nearly up to the last moment

BERLIN, October 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French and Ukrainian presidents Francois Hollande and Pyotr Poroshenko have started talks on the situation in Ukraine.

The talks are being held in the chancellor’s office.

Prior to the meeting of the Normandy Four, the leaders held a separate meeting on Ukrainian settlement.

The possibility of holding new direct talks between the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine was in question nearly up to the last moment. It was agreed only the day before the summit.

The talks are held behind closed doors.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier Moscow does not expect a breakthrough at today’s round of talks in Berlin. Kiev’s compliance with the Minsk accords would be the ideal outcome.