Putin, Merkel hold 2nd phone talk in 2 days about migration crisis on Belarusian-Polish border

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border in a telephone talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a second time in as many days, according to the Kremlin.

"The leaders continued their discussion of the situation on the Belarusian borders with the European Union and confirmed the importance of settling the acute migration crisis as soon as possible in accordance with international humanitarian standards," it said in a statement.

Putin once again urged the EU to restore contacts with Belarus to resolve the problem.

The leaders also spoke about the situation in Ukraine with the Russian leader drawing Merkel's attention to the use of drones by Ukrainian armed forces, which violates the Minsk Agreement.

"President Putin noted Kiev’s destructive policy, which is relying increasingly on force. Thus, it is using assault drones in violation of the Minsk Package of Measures,” it said. “The destabilizing and dangerous provocations by the armed forces of the United States and other NATO countries in the Black Sea were also noted.”