The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine have spoken in favor of trilateral consultations between the European Union, Ukraine, and Russia to eliminate Moscow's concerns regarding a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU.

A declaration adopted following the Normandy Quartet summit in Minsk on Thursday says that the four leaders support trilateral negotiations between the EU, Ukraine and Russia to work out a practical solution to issues causing Russia's concerns in light of the implementation of the Ukrainian-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

The four leaders also supported the continuation of EU-Ukrainian-Russian trilateral talks on energy, so as to take steps to promote a winter gas package.