SOCHI, Bocharov Ruchei. May 2 (Interfax) - The countries involved in the Normandy format process should continue dealing with the Ukraine crisis, and these efforts will continue even after the elections in France, Russian President Vladimir Putin said following a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi.
"Doubtlessly, the Normandy format countries should continue active efforts to settle the crisis in Ukraine," Putin said at a joint press conference with Merkel on Tuesday.
"That is, work in this format will continue after the French presidential election, which we agreed on in our last telephone conversation [between the Normandy format leaders]," he said.
During the talks, the parties "reaffirmed the need for strict compliance with the Minsk Agreements," Putin said.