MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have called on Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists to cease fire in eastern Ukraine.
In their first phone call since a flare-up in hostilities in the east which killed more than 33 people last week, Putin and Merkel on Feb. 7 expressed concern over heavy fighting in Ukraine’s industrial heartland. The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin pointed out to Merkel remarks of some Ukrainian officials who indicated that it was Kyiv who triggered last week’s escalation.
