Putin arrives in Elysee Palace for Normandy Four talks

PARIS, October 2. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the Elysee Palace in Paris that will host the summit of the Normandy Four countries, namely Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, on Friday. Under the program, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian leader Pyotr Poroshenko are due to arrive in the French presidential palace later on day. Ahead of the summit, Putin is scheduled to hold talks with French President Francois Hollande first. Later, the Russian leader is expected to have bilateral talks with Merkel. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said besides the talks, the leaders will also attend a working lunch. This will be the third such face-to-face meeting of the four leaders since the so-called Normandy format of negotiations on the conflict in Ukraine was introduced in June 2014. Under the agreement reached by the Contact Group at Minsk talks, full ceasefire has been established on the contact line since September 1. Earlier this week, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia and Ukraine announced that Kiev and Donbass reached an agreement on withdrawing weaponry of less than 100mm caliber to a distance of 15 kilometers from the contact line. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this gave "the reason for moderate optimism" ahead of the Paris summit. Putin told the presidential human rights council on Thursday that the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict is still some way off but there are things that inspire the that the crisis may be overcome. "Let’s hope dialogue between the unrecognized (Lugansk and Donetsk) republics and the Kiev authorities will be positive and the main condition for reaching the compromise will be fulfilled, too," he said. "Russia will insist on it because it hopes to see displays of good will on both sides." Read more