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Representatives of Ukraine, EU and Eurasian trio to meet in Minsk on August 26

Such a format makes it possible to discuss a whole range of issues, said Valery Chalyi, the Ukrainian president’s deputy administration chief

Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko Archive ITAR-TASS/Alexei Nikolsky

Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander Lukashenko

© Archive ITAR-TASS/Alexei Nikolsky

KIEV, August 19, 23:14 /ITAR-TASS/. An agreement of representatives of Ukraine, the European Union and the Eurasian trio (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) to meet in Minsk on August 26 is opening up an opportunity for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine’s conflict-stricken Donbas region, Valery Chalyi, the Ukrainian president’s deputy administration chief, told journalists at the Ukraine’s crisis management center on Tuesday.

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Ukraine’s association agreement with the European Union, namely the creation of a free trade and energy cooperation zone, will also be part of the agenda.

“Such a format makes it possible to discuss a whole range of issues. We have a chance to get down to working out a roadmap for ending the war and starting a peaceful process,” Chalyi went on to say.

He said Ukraine’s President Pyotr Poroshenko was likely to lead the Ukrainian delegation in Minsk.

Three European commissioners are expected to participate in the Minsk talks. “It is important that the format is multilateral. We are grateful to the European Union for its support,” Chalyi said, recalling that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was due to arrive in Kiev on August 23. President Poroshenko is to pay a visit to Brussels on August 30 to attend a session of the EU Council.

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