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1st LD: Political dialogue only way out for Ukraine crisis: Putin

Xinhua, May 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Sunday that the Ukraine crisis should only be solved through political dialogue.

"I am convinced that a reliable, long-term settlement can only be achieved by establishing direct dialogue between Kiev, (the two self-proclaimed republics of) Donetsk and Lugansk," Putin said during a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Kremlin.

He added that it was necessary for all parties to stick to the full implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement.

"There are reasons to believe that the Minsk process is moving, although with difficulties," the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

"The situation in southeastern Ukraine became more stable after Feb. 12 (when the Normandy format talks were held in the Belarusian capital of Minsk), despite all problems," said the president.

Merkel agreed that Germany and Russia would continue to work for "the restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine." Endi