Berlin – German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged him to take steps to protect civilians during the military operation against illegal armed groups in the east of Ukraine.
During the legitimate operation against the separatists, actions should be proportionate and civilians should be protected, the chancellor’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Friday.
The two leaders stressed the need to hold urgent negotiations of the tripartite contact group, which is made up of senior representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, with representatives of unlawful armed groups.
Seibert noted that the aim of such a meeting should be to implement Poroshenko’s peace plan.
