Merkel called for a “bilateral ceasefire and effective border controls
Kiev: German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed for a new ceasefire in crisis talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday, as a controversial Russian convoy returned home.
The visit by Ms Merkel, the most influential Western leader to call on Kiev since the crisis erupted in the ex-Soviet state came ahead of crunch talks next Tuesday between Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin alongside top EU officials.
Tensions surged on Friday when Russia sent scores of trucks it said were carrying aid to the stricken insurgent stronghold of Lugansk in an unauthorised move Kiev described as a “direct invasion”.
Ms Merkel called for a “bilateral ceasefire and effective border controls” to help stop four months of brutal fighting between pro-Russian rebels and government troops.
She also warned Russia of further punitive measures. “We cannot rule out thinking about further sanctions if things do not progress,” she said.
Mr Poroshenko said the “time has come for peace” in the war-torn east but ruled out sacrificing Ukraine’s sovereignty to end the conflict.
Russia’s controversial aid convoy to war-torn eastern Ukraine returned across the border on Saturday.
( Source : AFP )
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