Merkel to discuss Afghanistan, Ukraine in meeting with Putin

BERLIN, Aug 18 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday to discuss security in Afghanistan and how to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Merkel will then travel on to Ukraine for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday which will focus on bilateral ties, political reforms and how to achieve progress in the stalled peace process for eastern Ukraine, he added. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber, editing by Emma Thomasson)