Putin to travel to Berlin for talks over Ukraine crisis

The Kremlin has confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a summit in Berlin at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week, Deutsche Welle reported on Tuesday. 

The meeting is intended to address "the next steps in the process towards ending the crisis in eastern Ukraine," according to the Chancellor's spokesman, Steffen Seibert.

Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine reportedly hope to "evaluate the implementation" of the Minsk peace accords for Ukraine. 

Russia and Ukraine had both agreed to the peace deal brokered by Germany and France in February 2015. 

According to Deutsche Welle, the accords have so far failed to completely stop the violence in the region.

It is the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in early 2014 that Putin is to visit Germany

Source: MENA