Normandy format advisers to meet in Berlin on Feb 10

"I can confirm that the meeting of the political advisers in the Normandy format will take place in Berlin on February 10," said Wolfgang Büchner, the Deputy Spokesperson of the German Federal Government, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The meeting will continue the talks in Paris on January 26, the first one in a long time. An intensive exchange of opinions took place in the French capital which, according to the spokesperson, showed that Ukraine and Russia continue to consider the Minsk agreements as a basis for further negotiations.

"All participants reaffirmed their readiness to make efforts to reduce the current differences of opinion for the sake of further progress. This, in particular, will be discussed during tomorrow's talks," Büchner said.

According to the government representative, Germany is strongly involved in the Normandy format, in which it has a special responsibility and, together with France, makes a special contribution to achieving the de-escalation of tensions in and around Ukraine.

"We need finally to achieve progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements," Büchner noted. He called the humanitarian situation in Donbas "depressing", adding that the German government welcomes all steps taken "in the right direction."

The meeting of advisers is expected to start at 13:00 Berlin time.

At a meeting of political advisers to the Normandy format leaders in Paris on January 26, it was agreed to hold the next meeting in two weeks.

The delegations of Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia are headed by Andriy Yermak, Jens Plötner, Emmanuel Bonn, and Dmitry Kozak, respectively.

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