Telephone conversation with Angela Merkel and François Hollande 2015-01-31 19:25:00 Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and President of France Francois Hollande. The three leaders continued their discussion of the further severe deterioration of the situation in southeast Ukraine. In view of another meeting of the contact group in Minsk, the parties expressed hope that a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy military equipment will feature prominently on its agenda.