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Steinmeier confirms plans to hold Normandy Four meeting on November 29

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expresses hope that his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts assess the seriousness of the situation in Donbass

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier EPA/MAURIZIO GAMBARINI/POOL

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

© EPA/MAURIZIO GAMBARINI/POOL

BERLIN, November 23. /TASS/. France and Germany are preparing a ministerial meeting of the "Normandy Four" to be held in the Belarusian capital Minsk on November 29, German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said speaking in the Bundestag (parliament) on Wednesday.

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Lavrov sees no possibility for Normandy Four meeting

"Last week, my French counterpart (Jean-Marc) Ayrault and I offered our Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to meet again in Minsk on Tuesday," he said. According to Steinmeier, the situation in Donbass has deteriorated over the past few days, whereas the number of ceasefire breaches has grown.

"Even if we are unable to achieve a breakthrough, such negotiations are necessary to make sure that the situation does not spiral out of control," Germany’s top diplomat said. "Even if it is difficult and the work is progressing very slowly, we should not abandon step-by-step implementation of the Minsk agreements," he added.

Steinmeier expressed hope that his "Russian and Ukrainian counterparts assess the seriousness of the situation in a similar way." "Both parties should finally make a visible contribution to the long-term settlement of the conflict in Ukraine," he added.

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