President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.
The Chancellor expressed condolences over the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked for the words of support and willingness of Germany to cooperate to ensure open and impartial investigation of the disaster.
The President also said that from the first days a group of Ukrainian specialists had worked at the scene of the tragedy. At present, those involved in the identification and repatriation of the bodies of the dead, as well as in the issue of "black boxes" remain in Iran.
The Head of State expects efficient investigation and criminal prosecution of the perpetrators of the crash of the Ukrainian aircraft, as well as compensation for the families of the victims and the carrier company. The President of Ukraine called on Germany to contribute politically to this process.
The parties also discussed the concluded agreements on the transit of gas through the territory of Ukraine to Europe.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was pleased with the compromise reached and the conclusion of the new contract, and thanked Germany for the mediation.
Angela Merkel, for her part, noted that the next task was to increase investment in the Ukrainian GTS to enhance its competitiveness.
The President of Ukraine and the Federal Chancellor of Germany also discussed the situation in Donbas.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Angela Merkel for her active participation in the Normandy format summit in Paris on December 9 and her support for Ukraine in the peaceful settlement of the situation in the east.
The Head of State emphasized that due to the negotiations in Paris, an agreement had been reached on the return of part of the detained Ukrainians.
"Unfortunately, we couldn’t release everyone, but we returned 76 people. And we are very grateful for your participation in this process,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He stressed that another release list was currently being formed.
Also, the President of Ukraine expressed concern about the failure to implement the agreement on ensuring a real regime of "complete ceasefire " in Donbas.
According to the Head of State, at the following consultations of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on January 16, the Ukrainian party will actively work to promote additional measures for a complete and comprehensive ceasefire.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed that the Ukrainian party had already determined the list of three additional sections for disengagement.
“It is very important for us that these are humanitarian areas. This is important for people,” he stressed.
In addition, the President expressed concern about the non-admission of representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to illegally detained persons in uncontrolled territories.