Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel, Hollande Hold Phone Talk on Ukraine Crisis

Leaders of the Normandy quartet countries held a telephone conversation on the crisis in Ukraine, according to a German government spokesperson.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leaders of the so-called Normandy quartet countries, have discussed the situation in Ukraine over the phone for the first time since April, a German government spokesperson said Friday.

"Chancellor Merkel held a telephone conference tonight with the presidents of France, Russia and Ukraine," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti, adding that the topic of discussion was "the situation in Ukraine and its aspects."

During their previous phone call on April 30, the four leaders noted progress in the implementation of the ceasefire regime along the separation line, according to the Kremlin press office.

The Normandy quartet has held several rounds of talks on Ukrainian reconciliation, most notably in February when they signed the Minsk deal in the Belarusian capital. The agreement included a set of 13 steps to end bloodshed in southeastern Ukraine.

Kiev’s military operation in southeastern Ukraine has claimed more than 6,500 lives since it began in April 2014, according to UN estimates.