Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L to R) attend the "Normandy four summit" in Paris, France, December 9, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A joint declaration was issued by the leaders of Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine. The Minsk agreements on Donbass continue to be the basis of the work of the Normandy format. The four parties agreed to support implementation of an updated demining plan and an agreement within the Trilateral Contact Group on three additional disengagement zones, aimed at disengaging forces and equipment by the end of March 2020. The parties also promised to effect a ceasefire before the end of this year.

At a joint press conference following the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will make an effort to resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the quartet have broken their silence on resolving the Donbass issue.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed gas transportation by the Gazprom and Naftogaz groups.