You're reading: Steinmeier: Video conference with militants from Ukraine’s east may be arranged on July 15

Berlin - Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on July 14 that the contact group on Ukraine is making efforts to arrange a video conference with illegal armed groups from the east of Ukraine.

The tripartite contact group is expected to establish contact with separatists on July 15.

The video conference will tackle the possibility of a bilateral ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors. In addition, the sides are to agree on the venue and time of a direct meeting with militants’ representatives.

German media reported that Steinmeier had said he wished that the video conference should ensure “a viable, bilateral ceasefire and Russia’s commitment to influence separatists.”

Steinmeier announced this during a recent visit to Jordan after a conference call with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin, and Russian Presidential Administration Head Sergei Ivanov.