Putin refuses to give up Normandy format

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes no other way is out there to resolve the situation in Ukraine other than the Normandy format.

Censor.NET reports citing TASS.

"As for the Normandy format, either it is good or bad, but no other option is out there to at least make an attempt at the settlement [of crisis in the Ukraine's east - ed.]," Putin said at a press conference following the G20 summit in China.

According to him, Russia will support this format.

"There is no other choice, we'll probably have to meet," Putin said.

"But I told both the federal chancellor and the French president it's not about meeting or not meeting. These meetings should entail some positive progress towards the settlement," the Russian president remarked.

As previously reported, Putin said he deemed it pointless to meet in the Normandy format after "Ukrainian saboteurs" staged a provocation in Crimea.