(Berlin) – Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France meeting in Berlin agreed on a series of steps for a resumption of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine where fighting between government troops and pro-Russia separatists has taken more than 400 lives since April.
The steps include reopening talks no later than Saturday “with the goal of reaching an unconditional and mutually agreed sustainable ceasefire” to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, their declaration said.
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has increased since a much-violated 10-day ceasefire expired late on Monday. Four Ukrainian troops were killed as government forces carried out more than 100 attacks on rebel positions, a military official said.
Russia supported the proposal to give Ukrainian border guards and OSCE representatives access to Russian territory to take part in controlling two border crossings once the ceasefire is in place, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Border posts have become a key issue because Ukraine and the United States say military equipment and reinforcements are flowing across the border from Russia. Moscow denies arming the rebels and describes Russian citizens fighting with them as volunteers. Asked whether Russia has any influence over the rebels, Lavrov said that “we have possibilities to influence those who defend their families, their soil and their territory.”
