Poroshenko Says 'Normandy Four' Leaders Likely To Meet In Early Summer In France

KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2019) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Friday that a meeting on the Donbas crisis settlement in the so-called Normandy Four format, which comprises France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine, is likely to be held in June in France.

On Friday, Poroshenko held meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris ahead of the second round of the presidential election in Ukraine. According to fresh polls, about 24 percent of people in the country are ready to vote for Poroshenko, however, his rival Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to outpace him in the second round with 61 percent of approval rating.

"We got a very clear message right after my reelection. We have a window of opportunity, and will convene a session of the Normandy format at the top level ... Most likely, this will happen in France, just on the fifth anniversary of the Normandy format [in June]," Poroshenko told Inter tv channel.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not plan to participate in events in France dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings and would not going to visit Normandy in June.

The armed conflict in the east of Ukraine began in 2014, after the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics refused to recognize the new government, saying that it had come to power through a coup.

In 2015, the warring parties signed a ceasefire deal in Minsk, following talks, brokered by the leaders of the Normandy group. Despite this agreement, sporadic fighting has continued in Donbas. To date, the situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.

The first round of Ukraine's presidential election took place on March 31. Zelenskiy led with over 30 percent of the votes, while Poroshenko secured almost 16 percent. As none of the candidates secured an absolute majority, a runoff election was scheduled for April 21.