Putin, Merkel support coordinated measures to deescalate Ukrainian crisis

MOSCOW, June 03. Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed the situation in Ukraine by telephone. “In the run-up to the bilateral meeting in Normandy on June 6, the leaders exchanged their views on the Ukrainian situation,” the Kremlin press service said. “The Russian president and the German chancellor called for developing coordinated measures to deescalate the crisis.”

The parties also discussed Russian-EU-Ukrainian talks over supplies of Russian natural gas, the press service said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on June 6 in Normandy, Russian president’s aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists on Tuesday, adding that the meeting will be held in the morning before the official events.
Putin also plans to meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to France. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president, noted that other contacts with heads of states were possible on the sidelines of the celebrations.
On June 5, Putin will hold talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris./ITAR-TASS/