Ukrainian, German FMs discuss cooperation in Normandy format

Kiev, Feb 8 (IANS) Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock have discussed cooperation in the Normandy format aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.Speaking at a meeting after their talks, Kuleba on Monday said currently, diplomats are preparing for talks of the advisors of the Normandy format, a four-party diplomatic group consisting of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, in Berlin."The preparations for the meeting in Berlin are not easy. But we are working to ensure that, at least after the meeting in Berlin, negotiations at the level of Normandy format advisers continue," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister told reporters.For her part, Baerbock said that the fact that negotiations within the Normandy format at the level of advisers continue is a "success"."Of course, we will not publish the agenda in the press. But we will communicate within the framework of a trusting atmosphere," he added.The advisors to the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are set to meet on February 10 in Berlin, Xinhua news agency reported.On January 26, the Normandy four advisors met in Paris and agreed on a joint statement, the first since December 2019.Baerbock arrived in Kiev earlier on Monday for a two-day visit.On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.On Monday, Macron met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.Since November, Kiev and some Western countries have accused Russia of assembling heavy troops near the Ukrainian border with a possible intention of "invasion".Russia denied the accusation, saying that it has the right to mobilise troops within its borders to defend its territory as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's activities constitute a threat to Russia's border security.
--IANS int/khz/

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