The presidents discussed in detail the developments in the northeast of the Syrian Arab Republic. They expressed their opinion on the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vladimir Putin told Emmanuel Macron about Russia’s efforts to stabilise the situation in the region, in part, to facilitate contacts between all interested parties and ensure the interests of all ethnic and religious groups.
The importance of launching inter-Syrian dialogue in the framework of the Constitutional Committee which will convene under the aegis of the UN in Geneva in late October was noted as an important factor of reaching stable political settlement in Syria.
Exchanging views on developments in Ukraine, they emphasised that there is no alternative to resolving the Ukrainian domestic crisis on the basis of the Minsk package of measures. Kiev must carry out by all means all agreements reached in the Normandy format and the Contact Group. First of all, this applies to the disengagement of forces and weapons at two agreed-upon sections of the contact line near Zolotoye and Petrovskoye and the implementation of the Steinmeier formula.
While discussing the possibility of holding a regular summit of the Normandy Four, the President of Russia again emphasised the need to thoroughly prepare for it, which would allow for drafting new steps for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. The parties agreed that presidential aides and the foreign ministries will continue this work.
It was agreed to continue bilateral contacts at different levels.