Russia, France ready to resolve crisis in Ukraine under Normandy format

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Thursday, saying they are ready to intensify efforts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine.

Both leaders expressed their readiness to intensify joint work in this area, including in the framework of the Normandy format, a diplomatic group comprising Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.

The Normandy contact group, or the Normandy Four, has existed since June 2014 and was set up to resolve the conflict in Donbas that erupted in April 2014.