The two leaders continued their exchange on the crisis in Ukraine, specifically within the context of the Malaysia Airlines jet crash in Donetsk region. Both sides stressed the importance of a careful and unbiased investigation of all the circumstances of the accident. Ms Merkel agreed that it should be conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with the involvement of all the parties concerned. The Federal Chancellor welcomed Russia’s readiness to assign its representative to take part in the investigation.
The need was stressed for a speedy termination of military action in the southeast of Ukraine and for launching peace negotiations. The sides noted the significance in this respect of resuming consultations by the contact group involving representatives of protesting regions, as well as of implementing Russia’s initiative to have OSCE representatives at two border patrol points on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
The two leaders agreed to continue their discussion.