PARIS (Sputnik) – The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France have begun so-called Normandy format talks in Paris on the Ukraine crisis.
The ministers are expected to discuss the implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the withdrawal of heavy artillery from the frontlines in the conflict between Kiev controlled regions and the breakaway eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Normandy format, one of several formats in which Ukraine peace talks have been conducted, was established last summer, when the leaders of the four countries met on the sidelines of the D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France to discuss Ukrainian reconciliation.
In September last year, Ukraine's warring sides agreed on a ceasefire deal, brokered by Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting in Minsk, Belarus.
Despite the agreement, fierce fighting continued in eastern Ukraine, with Kiev and local militia accusing each other of carrying out attacks.
In a bid to put an end to the hostilities, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met in Minsk earlier in February.
During the meeting the leaders agreed upon a document outlining measures to end the conflict, including a ceasefire which came into force on February 15.
