MOSCOW, (Reuters) – On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that “Normandy format” talks will be held in Paris by political advisers representing Russia, Ukraine and France on the issue of eastern Ukraine.

Mykhailo Podolyak was the advisor to Ukraine’s chief negotiator Andriy Yermak. He confirmed that a Paris meeting had been planned. But, he said to Reuters that a preliminary date had been agreed for Jan. 26.

The talks were planned in the midst of increased tensions between Russia & West regarding Ukraine.

Russia is building up its military along the Russian border. Western nations are worried and warned that it could have severe economic effects if they invade their neighbor. Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine and is seeking legally binding guarantees of security from NATO and USA.

These four-way Normandy format talks aim to help end an ongoing conflict between pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and Ukrainian government forces.

After Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and Moscow-backed forces seize territory in Donbass that Kyiv want back, relations between Russia and Ukraine fell apart in 2014.

The Russian chief negotiator Dmitry Kozak is expected to participate in negotiations from Russia, according to the source.

Kozak had stated in January that the meeting would occur by the month’s end.