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Merkel calls for implementing Ukraine’s peace plan

The peace plan was in the focus of telephone talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

© EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

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Putin tells nationwide audience about artillery shelling on Ukrainian territory

BERLIN, June 22. /ITAR-TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has noted the importance of implementing the peace plan unveiled by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on June 20.

The peace plan was in the focus of telephone talks between Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the governmental spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Sunday.

“The leaders stressed the need to observe the ceasefire and launch the political dialogue,” Seibert said. “Strengthening the Russian-Ukrainian border were also the priority of the talk,” he said, but declined to elaborate.

Merkel, Hollande urge to resume talks

Hollande and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel have appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin “to facilitate the resumption of talks” on returning the situation in Ukraine back to normal, the Elysees Palace said.

According to the press service of the Elysees Palace, Hollande and Merkel told Putin they had examined his statement in the wake of a proclamation of ceasefire by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Pursuant to Putin’s statement, they urged him to work towards the resumption of talks.

The French and German leaders pointed out the importance of exercising a full-scale control over the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border so as to prevent the penetration of Ukraine by armed people and combat vehicles, the report said.

Putin supports ceasefire in Ukraine

The Kremlin press service said earlier Putin said in the conversation with Merkel and Hollande he supported Poroshenko’s decision to implement a peace settlement plan.

The Russian President said the intentions voiced by Poroshenko should be supported by a real ceasefire between the Kiev government and representatives to be delegated by the much-troubled Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The conversation, in the course of which the three leaders continued an exchange of opinions on the ways of getting over Ukraine’s toughest internal political crisis in Ukraine in the context of Poroshenko’s statement, was held in line with an agreement reached previously.

“The Presidents of Russia and France and the Federal Chancellor of Germany once again emphasized their preparedness to assist normalization in Ukraine,” the Kremlin press service said.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine Vladimir Putin France Angela Merkel Germany Francois Hollande

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