04/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - Leaders from “Normandy” group countries reassert commitment to implement Minsk agreements. On Wednesday 30 December during a telephone call, leaders from the Normandy group (Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine) emphasised the importance of fully implementing the whole raft of measures from the Minsk agreements of 2016. They have therefore subsequently reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire in the East of Ukraine and the concerted withdrawal of heavy weapons with immediate effect. The discussion between the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and the respective presidents of France, Russia and Ukraine, François Hollande, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko, focused on subjects such as preparations for the local elections in the Donbass region planned for the beginning of this year. The leaders also agreed that their foreign ministers should also provide an update on implementation of the Minsk agreements by the beginning of February. (CG)