Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. As reported on the website of the Kremlin, during the conversation held on the initiative of the German side, the leaders continued the discussion of the situation around Russian gas supplies to European consumers via Ukraine.
Putin once again expressed concern at the fact that the Ukrainian side refuses negotiation of agreements on gas purchases from Russia in the current winter season, which poses a threat to transit.
The interlocutors noted the necessity of intensifying the efforts for a comprehensive implementation of the Minsk agreements. Putin stressed that in the current environment requires, above all, “termination by the Kyiv security forces of the provocative shelling of settlements of Donbass, the withdrawal of socio-economic blockade of the region and the establishment of a direct dialogue of Kyiv with Donetsk and Lugansk”.
When discussing the situation in Syria, Putin has been informed about the actions of Russia in the fight against international terrorism and large-scale humanitarian assistance in the liberated from the militants areas.
The parties agreed to intensify bilateral contacts.
Held on December 9 talks in Brussels, Russia and Ukraine differed in estimates of tripartite negotiations Russia — Ukraine — EU gas. Russian energy Minister Alexander Novak said that the meeting was very constructive and the parties discussed the supply of fuel in winter. The head of “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Andrew KOBOLEV, in turn, said that the agreement could not be reached and told about the necessity of signing an additional agreement.