Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel discussed current issues related to countering the coronavirus pandemic and confirmed their commitment to further close cooperation between the health ministries and other relevant agencies.
The two leaders continued to exchange views on the state of affairs in resolving the internal Ukrainian conflict and expressed concern about the lack of progress in implementing the 2015 Minsk agreements and the decisions taken following the Normandy summit in Paris in 2019. The importance of stepping up the negotiation process in the Contact Group and in the Normandy format was noted. The Russian President again emphasised the relevance of establishing a direct dialogue between Kiev and the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, aimed at, among other things, agreeing on steps for the consistent implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures.
Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel expressed concern about the escalation of hostilities in Libya and emphasised that a speedy ceasefire and launch of intra-Libyan negotiations under the auspices of the UN were essential. The Russian side gave a positive assessment of Egypt’s mediation efforts to peacefully settle the Libyan crisis, following on from the decisions of the Berlin International Conference held on January 19 of this year.
Key aspects of developments in Syria, including those related to the humanitarian needs of the population of the republic, were also discussed.
It was agreed on further contacts.