OREANDA-NEWS. Negotiations of the leaders of the “Normandy Four” (Russia, France, Germany, Ukraine) began in Paris. The meeting in the “Normandy format” which was scheduled for 16:00 local time began with a delay of almost an hour and a half.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are holding a summit in the Elysee Palace. Media report that before the beginning of summit, Putin spoke with Merkel and Macron. German and French leaders, in turn, previously negotiated with Zelensky.

A bilateral meeting of the presidents of Russia and Ukraine is planned after the summit of the “Normandy Four”.

On December 6, Zelensky spoke about his expectations from the upcoming negotiations to resolve the situation in the Donbass in the “Normandy format.” According to him, he wants to achieve clarity on the issue of further exchange of detainees, a ceasefire and the establishment of peace in the Donbass.

The “Normandy format” of negotiations on the situation in Ukraine appeared in June 2014. During the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the landing of allies in Normandy, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany for the first time discussed the settlement of the conflict in Donbass. In February 2015, the members of the “Normandy Four” signed a document on a package of measures to implement the Minsk Agreements, which included a ceasefire and reconciliation of the parties. Arrangements for the withdrawal of forces and disarmament have been repeatedly violated.