Putin, Poroshenko,Merkel, Hollandestart talks onUkraine settlement

The summit may signal a
culmination of the intense
multilateral efforts to tap clues to
resolution of the crisis in south-
eastern Ukraine

MINSK, February 11 /TASS/. The
"Normandy four" leaders have started
talks on the Ukraine settlement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko
and French President Francois
Hollande and German Chancellor
Angela Merkel have gathered at the
Independence Palace in Minsk for
their meeting.
Almost 500 journalists had gathered to
cover the summit. They could see the
"Normandy four" leaders arrive at the
Independence Palace where they were
met and greeted by the host -
Belarusian President Alexander
Lukashenko.
The leaders did not make any
statements before the meeting.
The summit may signal a culmination
of the intense multilateral efforts to
tap clues to resolution of the crisis in
south-eastern Ukraine.
Diplomatic efforts on the Ukrainian
issue picked pace over the past seven
days, as Angela Merkel and Francois
Hollande visited Kiev and Moscow
where they made public their
proposals on how to settle the
Ukrainian problem.
On Sunday, the Normandy Four
discussed the most recent
developments over the phone and
appointed a meeting in Minsk for
Tuesday.
In the brief interval between the
meetings in Moscow and Minsk,
Merkel visited Washington for talks
with Barack Obama. She said after the
meeting that one more attempt to
settle the conflict in Ukraine should be
made, adding that she would have
never pardoned herself if this attempt
had not been made.
Hollande told reporters before
departure for Minsk he was leaving
with a firm conviction a much-desired
compromise solution would be found
eventually.
Poroshenko said before boarding the
jet in Kiev was going to Minsk to cease
fire and open a political dialogue
immediately and unconditionally.