Putin discusses Ukraine and the Middle East with Merkel by phone
Updated 17:23, 01-Feb-2020
CGTN
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel shake hands prior to their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 11, 2020. /AP Photo

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel shake hands prior to their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 11, 2020. /AP Photo

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the Middle East and Ukraine during a phone call, the Kremlin said in a statement on Friday.

The leaders also discussed implementing the agreements reached at an international conference on Libya in Berlin earlier this month, the statement said.

Putin noted the need to coordinate with the Libyan parties at the conference, which is important for later support by the United Nations Security Council, according to the statement.

Both sides emphasized the importance of ensuring a stable regime to end hostilities and launch a political dialogue.

Despite disagreements over the legitimacy of the two fighting sides in Libya, world leaders with interests in the North African country agreed to respect the UN Security Council arms embargo in Libya at the Berlin conference. 

But United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Chief Ghassan Salame Thursday lamented the fact that Libya's warring parties were still receiving military reinforcements in spite of the Berlin outcomes. He called the truce between the warring factions only exists "in name." 

The phone call also came as French President Macron and his Turkish counterpart have been engaging in a war of words over Turkey's continued support for the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), the UN-recognized government based in Tripoli. 

Putin and Merkel also discussed the situations in Ukraine and Syria as well as the plan for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict recently proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Germany has been playing a vital role in facilitating peace talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was elected last year and has been active in pushing for an end to the protracted armed conflict in the Donbass region. 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend a joint news conference after a Normandy-format summit in Paris, France, December 9, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend a joint news conference after a Normandy-format summit in Paris, France, December 9, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Putin and Zelensky met for the first time two months ago in Paris where both French and German leaders were also present. Although all four claimed progress was made during the meeting, it failed to produce a breakthrough. 

The EU has recently extended sanctions on Russia over Ukraine to July 2020. 

Germany has expressed skepticism over Trump's peace proposal, while Putin remains tight-lipped on the issue.

(With input from agencies)