Ukrainian President on the meeting with leaders of Germany and France: We have thoroughly discussed the road map for the implementation of the Minsk agreements with the mandatory use of peacekeepers

President Petro Poroshenko discussed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of France Emmanuel Macron a road map for the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the involvement of UN peacekeepers in the occupied part of the Donbas.

"This was the first meeting in trilateral format after the elections in Germany and after the elections in Russia. We thoroughly discussed our possible steps, the "road map" for the implementation of the Minsk agreements, with the mandatory use of peacekeepers," Petro Poroshenko informed.

"As practical implementation of the Minsk agreements clearly demonstrates their security component cannot be achieved without a full-scale UN peacekeeping mission in the occupied Donbas," the President underlined.

The Head of State stressed: "I would like to express gratitude that both the German Chancellor and the President of France have supported this position of Ukraine. Just as our American partners did".

According to him, the visit of U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker is expected. "We clearly emphasize that Russians should support the draft resolution, where a "road map" would be clearly implemented, taking into account the Minsk agreements and taking into account peacekeepers. And this should be included in the decision of the UN Security Council. This is an absolutely key position for us," the President emphasized.

The Head of State also noted that during the meeting with the leaders of Germany and France, the humanitarian component had been discussed, including the issue of hostages held in the occupied territory, including Ukrainian servicemen and political prisoners illegally detained in Russia. According to Petro Poroshenko, the names of the captives were clearly identified.

"This is especially important, because we know that on May 18 and 23 Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron will meet with Putin. We have clearly agreed and coordinated those steps, the agenda we have to make in order to hold a meeting in the Normandy format in the near future. It is most likely that this should happen in Paris. We are planning to draft the agenda carefully in order to ensure effective negotiations in the specified format," the President stressed.

Original