Ukraine expects Normandy format summit soon, says president

KYIV, Ukraine

Ukraine expects a summit on the Donbas region to be held as soon as possible in the Normandy format, the country's president said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference alongside the visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in the capital Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky said: "The peace process was one of the key issues of our meeting."

"We expect that in the near future, in accordance with the agreements reached during the Paris Summit in December 2019, we will be able to hold the next talks of the leaders of the Normandy Four," Zelensky said.

The president said Kyiv has a common view with Macron on threats and security challenges towards Ukraine, Europe, and the world, which he underlined "demand unity and new proactive approaches from European leadership."

He said they would continue to cooperate for the "de-occupation" of Ukrainian territory.

Also touching on Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks that Ukraine should "be patient" regarding the 2015 Minsk agreement to implement a peace plan and end the fighting, Zelensky said: "Ukraine is patient. I think this is wisdom. This is important for all European and Russian people. Because tension depends on our patience."

France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia came together under the Normandy Format talks in 2014, after Russia's invasion of the Donbas region.

Tension between Ukraine and Russia

Moscow and Kyiv have been locked in conflict since hostilities in the eastern Donbas region broke out in 2014 after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula.

Russia has now amassed thousands of troops near Ukraine's borders, prompting fears it could be planning another military offensive against the former Soviet republic.

The US and its allies have warned of an imminent attack, and threatened Russia of "severe consequences."

Moscow, however, has denied it is preparing to invade Ukraine and said its troops are there for exercises.

Efforts by world leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are afoot to resolve the row peacefully. Turkiye has offered to host a peace summit between Putin and Zelensky.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan