During a lengthy and detailed discussion, Mr Putin and Ms Merkel touched base in detail on the course of implementing the Minsk agreements. They focused on the high priority of completing the process of disengaging the conflicting parties in southeast Ukraine.
The two leaders continued to express serious differences in views on the source of Ukraine’s domestic conflict, as well as root causes for what is happening there today.
The President of Russia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany also touched on the topic of monitoring the ceasefire and had a nuanced discussion on gas supplies.