Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed during a phone conversation the escalation of violence in Donbas and the need to free hostages immediately.
The two officials discussed the situation in Donbas, particularly the attempted attack by Russian militants near Svitlodarsk, the Ukrainian president’s press service reported.
The German chancellor also stressed the importance of ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement by the Netherlands and completion of all procedures for the introduction of the visa-free regime for Ukrainians, the press service reported.
Merkel also welcomed courageous and necessary decision of the Ukrainian authorities regarding the nationalization of the country’s largest bank PrivatBank.
The Ukrainian president also expressed condolences to the German people over the terrorist attack at a Christmas market in Berlin. “We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever it may happen,” Poroshenko said.
