Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter currently chairs the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
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Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, who currently chairs the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss the Ukrainian crisis, according to his ministry.
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Burkhalter will meet Putin on Wednesday in Moscow to discuss diplomatic means to stop the violence in Ukraine. The OSCE is convinced that efforts to implement the Geneva agreement must be strengthened and that the top meeting on May 7 is part of that strategy.
The meeting was the main subject of a telephone conversation between Putin and German chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday. They talked about establishing round-table talks under the auspices of the OSCE to facilitate dialogue ahead of the elections in Ukraine on May 25.
Merkel also expressed her relief about the release of persons who were detained by a separatist group. Putin and Merkel stressed the importance of effective international action to reduce tensions, according to the Russian government. They also discussed Russian gas deliveries and transport routes.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.