YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have agreed to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China, the Kremlin said on August 23, TASS reported.

"The three leaders agreed to maintain personal contacts over Ukraine, in particular, to hold a joint meeting on the sidelines of the September 4-5 summit of the Group of 20 in China," the release says.

The leaders discussed the prospects of the Minsk process, based on the synchronization of the political steps and security measures, the Kremlin press service reported on Tuesday.

The sides discussed "issues of Ukraine’s internal crisis, including prospects for the continuation of the Minsk process, based on the synchronization of the political steps and measures in the sphere of security," the Kremlin said. The Russian President, German Chancellor and French President emphasized "the importance of the provision of a permanent legislative framework for the special status of Donbass, the constitutional reform and amnesty, the organization of local elections." All these questions "should be coordinated in the Contact Group (on the Ukrainian crisis resolution) where Kiev has the possibility to conduct a direct dialogue with the (self-proclaimed republics) of Donetsk and Lugansk".

According to the statement, in a telephone conversation, Putin drew attention to the recent alleged attempt by Kiev to carry out a subversive act in Crimea, marking the damage from such actions for the settlement process.

"Vladimir Putin drew attention of his partners to a rude provocation by the Ukrainian side, which sent to the territory of the Russian Federation early in August a team of saboteurs for committing terrorist attacks," the Kremlin press service said. "Kiev’s tend to such kind of military actions damages the Minsk process and cooperation within the Normandy format," it added.