KIEV, August 23, 17:36 /ITAR-TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday supported the upcoming talks between Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, and EU senior officials to be held in Minsk next week.

“President Poroshenko is ready for discussions in Minsk, including on a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU,” Merkel said at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday.

She said the EU would discuss how to avoid unnecessary complications in trade with Russia.

“President Poroshenko wants to achieve a peaceful settlement in the east (of Ukraine), and Germany wants to facilitate this process. I hope the negotiations we support will lead to peace,” she said.

Merkel said she was hopeful that the proposed peace plan could be successful if both sides wished so.