Meeting Among Normandy Four Leaders Could Be Held in Berlin

Normandy format meeting aimed at the resolving of the conflict in eastern Ukraine could meet in Berlin, the French Foreign Ministry said Monday.

PARIS (Sputnik) — French, German, Russian and Ukrainian leaders, whose countries make up the so-called Normandy format to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine, could meet in Berlin, the French Foreign Ministry said Monday.

"The Normandy format summit is planned in Berlin. Its conduct will depend on the progress of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The date will be announced as soon as possible," the ministry's spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said that the meeting might take place on October 19. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also confirmed that preparations for the meeting are underway.

In April 2014, Kiev authorities launched a military operation to suppress pro-independence militia in the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region. In February 2015, the two sides reached a ceasefire deal after talks brokered by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine — the so-called Normandy Format — in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

Key points of the Minsk agreements include a ceasefire, heavy weapons withdrawal from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, constitutional reforms, including a decentralization of power in the country, and granting a special status to the Donbas region.