Merkel, Zelenskyy discuss situation in eastern Ukraine, migrant crisis

Acting German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine.

German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said this at a press conference on Thursday, November 25.

"The Chancellor and the President of Ukraine discussed the security situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border and in eastern Ukraine. Chancellor Merkel underlined her support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed that undermining them would not be left without consequences," Seibert said.

Merkel and Zelenskyy agreed to advance efforts in the Normandy format to implement the Minsk agreements to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict.

The politicians also exchanged their views on the situation on the border between Belarus and the European Union and between Belarus and Ukraine, Seibert added.

Earlier on November 25, Merkel said at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki that Berlin saw it as its task to do everything possible to prevent a new wave of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, predicted on November 21 that Russia could resort to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in January or February next year.