Obama to Discuss Situation in Ukraine, Syrian Settlement in Germany Next Week

Outgoing US President Barack Obama will discuss the current situation in the crisis-torn Ukraine and Syria during his forthcoming visit to Germany next week, White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Later in November, the incumbent US president is expected to pay visits to Greece, Germany, and Peru.

"During his time in Germany, they’ll have an opportunity to discuss the whole range of issues that we cooperate on with Europe, whether that's the fight against ISIL, the ongoing migration issues, counterterrorism cooperation, next steps in Syria, the situation in Ukraine — the agenda that we've been working on with Europe, and certainly I'm sure they’ll discuss the recent U.S. election," Rhodes said, as quoted by the White House.

In April 2014, Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence supporters in Donbass who rose against the coup-imposed government in Kiev. In February 2015, the two sides reached a ceasefire deal after talks brokered by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine — the Normandy format — in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. Both sides to the conflict, however, are constantly accusing each other of violations of the agreement.

The internal conflict in Syria has lasted for about five years. All diplomatic efforts by Russia, the United States and other mediators have so far failed to completely stop violence in the country.