BERLIN, April 25 — German Chancellor Angela Merkel today phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to voice her “great concern” over the tense situation in eastern Ukraine, her spokesman said.
“In the phone call she expressed her great concern over the tense situation in eastern Ukraine and said she expects Russia’s government to express its commitment to the Geneva agreement and to co-operate in its implementation,” said spokesman Steffen Seibert.
Ukraine, Russia, the European Union and the United States last week signed a deal in Geneva aimed at easing tensions in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatist rebels have occupied government buildings.
Seibert said “Russia should publicly declare that it fully supports the Geneva declaration and it should publicly call on the armed pro-Russian groups in Ukraine to refrain from violence and lay down their arms”.
The spokesman stressed that so far Russia’s position since the Geneva deal had been “absolutely disappointing” and that “we can see no progress whatsoever”.
His comments echoed an earlier sharp rebuke to Moscow by US Secretary of State John Kerry and came as US President Barack Obama was to speak to European leaders including Merkel in a conference call.
Seibert, speaking at a Berlin press conference, said that “sanctions are already in place” against Russia and that “you have to face the facts — in case nothing changes, it is important to be prepared for more” sanctions. — AFP
