OREANDA-NEWS. The deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, Dmitriy Kozak, said after talks with German Chancellor Jens Pletner's foreign policy adviser and French President Emmanuel Bonn's diplomatic adviser that the German and French governments had confirmed their commitment to the Minsk agreements. Furthermore, Kozak said that the sides touched upon "a number of practical steps" to implement the agreements.

"The new German government and the former French leadership have confirmed their commitment to the Minsk agreements as the non-alternative basis for resolving the situation in south-east Ukraine,"- Kozak stressed.

Moreover, according to the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, the sides agreed on further contacts involving Ukraine to stabilise the situation in the southeast of the state. Kozak added that this solution was necessary to end the conflict as soon as possible.

Dmitry Kozak's talks with the Normandy format advisers were held in Moscow's Arkhangelskoye estate. Before the talks, the advisers to the German and French leaders took Kozak for a ride on a Russian troika. After the ride, Pletner and Bonn were offered hot tea from an authentic Russian samovar.