You're reading: Merkel, Hollande phone Putin over Ukraine crisis

Moscow, May 25 (Interfax) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Saturday telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the deep political crisis in Ukraine and Sunday's planned presidential election in that country.

“The leaders of the three states expressed anxiety at the fact that the situation in that country is still marked by a bitter confrontation and is far from stable. A desire was expressed that the presidential election in Ukraine should be held in a calm and peaceful atmosphere,” the Russian president’s office said in a statement.

The three leaders also “stressed the need to intensify the negotiation process involving Russia, the European Union and Ukraine aimed at solving energy problems,” it said.