17/10/2014 09:43
Putin, Merkel discuss implementation of Minsk agreements
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed the process of implementation of the Minsk agreements on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis at their meeting in Milan, the two leaders still have different points of view on the origins of the internal Ukrainian conflict, the Kremlin said Friday, according to RIA Novosti.
“After a long (about 2.5 hours) and detailed conversation, Putin and Merkel have conducted quite a detailed comparison of their positions on the implementation of Minsk agreements. The priority has been attached to the completion of the process of separation of the opposing sides in the Ukraine’s southeast,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“Serious discrepancies persist regarding the genesis of the internal conflict in Ukraine and the prime causes of what is currently going on there,” Peskov added.
According to Peskov, the two leaders have also touched upon the issue of monitoring the ceasefire regime and discussed the gas topic “in full detail.”
Vladimir Putin arrived in Milan on Thursday to take part in the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and hold a number of bilateral meetings. At the ASEM Summit the leaders of more than 50 countries will discuss sustainable development, global security and the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, including the gas issue.