The Franco-German mediation summit on Ukraine with Russia, initially expected in April, will only take place after the pandemic of the new coronavirus has eased, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.
" Because of the coronavirus, all countries are dealing with their own problems, " said Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference. " It's complicated but we discussed it with Germany and France and everyone agrees to have a meeting in Normandy format (the name of these peace talks, note) as soon as the pandemic has subsided ", he added.
Read also: Eastern Ukraine: no result during a meeting on the settlement of the conflict
Volodymyr Zelensky also once again declared himself in favor of direct negotiations with Vladimir Putin even if his detractors fear that the young head of state, in office for a year, would make unacceptable concessions to the strong man of the Russia. " Even if society is divided over direct negotiations between President Zelensky and President Putin, I am sure we must do it, " said the head of state. " There are things you can only understand one-on-one, " he said.
Read also: The rotten spring of Vladimir Putin
In December, a Normandy-style summit organized in Paris, under the mediation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Head of State Emmanuel Macron, had allowed some timid advances in the peace process in eastern East 'Ukraine. After this first meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Poutine, the four leaders were given an appointment four months later, in April, but the lack of progress in the implementation of the decisions announced in Paris and especially the pandemic l 'have put on hold.
Read also: Ukraine adopts banking law to get IMF assistance
The war with the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has left more than 13,000 dead and nearly 1.5 million displaced since its outbreak in 2014. The peace agreements signed in Minsk in 2015 under international mediation have made it possible a considerable reduction in violence, but the political settlement has not advanced since.
