Poroshenko will hold talks with Merkel and Macron
KIEV, may 9 — RIA Novosti. The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on may 9-10, will visit the German Aachen, where these days will take place the ceremony of awarding the international prize of Charles the Great.
On the sidelines of this event the Ukrainian leader plans to hold trilateral talks with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and President of France Emmanuel Macron, in which to discuss the issue of deploying UN peacekeepers in Donbas.
Earlier, Merkel said that the meeting cannot be regarded as meeting in the “channel format”, because it will not take part, Russian President Vladimir Putin. In “Normandy format” on settlement of the situation in the Donbass, Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine.
Interviewees RIA Novosti experts believe that the meeting should not expect great results. In particular, the settlement in the Donbass, as it will not make the participation of Putin and representatives of the United States.
Meeting of the three
Information about the plans to be held in Aachen, the summit of heads of Ukraine, Germany and France in the Donbass UN peacekeepers without Putin’s involvement was leaked to the media, citing sources at the beginning of April.
First this information was confirmed by Merkel during the previous Poroshenko’s visit to Germany on April 10. The Federal Chancellor stated that the holding of such a short meeting “is possible”. However, she noted that this will not be a meeting in the “Normandy format”. She did not specify what issues will be discussed during the talks.
According to the press service of the Ukrainian President, in addition to the trilateral talks with Merkel and Macron, Poroshenko is also scheduled to meet with President of the European Council Donald Tusk. The subject of their talks was not reported.
In addition, Poroshenko will participate in events in the framework of the annual ceremony of awarding the prize “Charlemagne” to the President of France Emmanuel Makron to, which is awarded for contributions to the unification of Europe.
Discuss peacekeepers
As previously announced himself Poroshenko during the meeting in Aachen, he plans to hold consultations “on security issues”. He also noted that in the first place and hopes to discuss with the German and French leaders on the issue of deployment of peacekeepers in the Donbass and to coordinate positions on sanctions against Russia.
“The Chancellor (Merkel — ed.) played a crucial role in the struggle for our independence and supported us in hard times. Both leaders (Merkel and macron — ed.) has just (late April — ed.) visited the United States, and I look forward to working closely with USA and EU regarding the creation of the UN peacekeeping mission, as well as better coordination on the issue of sanctions”, — said Poroshenko in an interview with German magazine Focus, answering the question what he expects from the meeting with Merkel and Macron in Aachen.