Moscow-Sana
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed in a telephone conversation today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel the situation in Syria.
According to the Kremlin website, Putin and Merkel exchanged views at the initiative of the German side on how to ensure the return of Syrian refugees to their country.
The two sides also discussed the settlement of the situation in Ukraine, taking into account the Steinmeier formula signed in the contact group composed of representatives of Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as the withdrawal of armed forces and military equipment from the regions of Belutnich near the towns of Stanitsa, Luganskaya and Zolotoy and the start of this process near the village of Petrovskoye.
During the call, the two sides noted the importance of "strict and strict adherence" to the 2015 Minsk Group and other agreements aimed at helping to resolve the crisis within Ukraine and stressed the need to define the special situation of the Denpas region in Ukrainian legislation.
Putin and Merkel also touched on the topics of continuing the trilateral talks with the participation of representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission on the conditions for the transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine.