Putin, Merkel Agree to Resolve North Korea Impasse
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation Wednesday with Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel.
They exchanged views on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula in the context of the latest provocative actions by the DPRK (North Korea) and condemned Pyongyang’s disregard of UN Security Council resolutions.
According to Kremlin, it was noted that such steps are contrary to the principles of global non-proliferation and pose a serious threat to regional peace and security.
It was also confirmed during the conversation that this acute crisis can only be resolved by political and diplomatic means, by resuming negotiations of all the parties involved. It was agreed to continue discussing the situation at the level of the foreign ministers of the two countries.
The implementation of the Minsk agreements on the settlement in southeast Ukraine was addressed. It was underscored that any violation of the ceasefire regime, undermining the so-called ”school truce“, agreed in the Contact Group and supported by the leaders of the Normandy format states, would be unacceptable.
Putin spoke in detail on the Russian initiative to establish a UN mission to aid the protection of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM). Taking into account the views communicated by Angela Merkel, the Russian leader expressed readiness to add to the functions of the above-mentioned UN mission proposed in the Russian draft resolution of the Security Council.
The protection of OSCE observers by the UN is envisioned not only on the contact line after the disengagement of the forces and equipment of both sides, but also in other places where the OSCE SMM conducts its inspection visits in accordance with the Minsk Package of Measures.
Photo courtesy: Kremlin
