Federal Chancellor Merkel is travelling to Kiev on Saturday for talks. The meeting is “another part of the Federal Government’s involvement” in efforts to resolve the conflict, according to Federal Government Spokesperson Seibert. Despite all the setbacks, the Federal Government is still hoping to find a political solution, he said.
2 min reading time
For months now the Federal Government has been working at various levels to bring about a political solution, said Federal Government Spokesperson Steffen Seibert in Berlin.
Seibert welcomed the fact that there will now be a direct meeting between President Putin and President Poroshenko. This Tuesday both heads of state will be taking part in a summit of the Customs Union in the Belarussian capital Minsk. “It is important that they not only telephone one another, but that they meet in person in order to find a political solution to the conflict", said Seibert.
Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also sees movement in the crisis in Ukraine. His hope is based on his meeting in person with the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine and France on Sunday in Berlin, explained Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson Martin Schäfer. The meeting has resulted not only in the continuation of talks but also the continued search for solutions in terms of a ceasefire on both sides and effective border protection, he said.
Despite the difficult talks, the foreign ministers came to the conclusion that a political solution for peace in Eastern Ukraine is possible, said Schäfer. “And we will do everything we can to achieve this political solution.”
On the German television channel ZDF on Tuesday, Steinmeier had said that he sees a change in the attitude of the conflicting partners. "I have the impression that both are now looking for possible ways to bring about a ceasefire.” After the talks on Sunday both foreign ministers had expressed their intention to continue talks, he said. Although the fact that President Putin and President Poroshenko want to meet in Minsk was not the solution, it was certainly “an evident change”.
At the invitation of Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier, the foreign ministers of France, Ukraine and Russia met in Berlin on Sunday. There they discussed ways of returning to a political process through which the crisis in Ukraine could gradually be resolved.
At the invitation of President Petro Poroshenko Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel is travelling to Ukraine on Saturday. In addition to the President, she will be meeting Prime Minister Arseni Jazenjuk for talks in Kiev. There is also likely to be an exchange of ideas with Ukrainian city mayors.
All the talks will focus on the current situation in Ukraine and relations with Russia. They will also concern issues such as how Ukraine can be supported in the current crisis.