Fabius: France, Germany Pushing for Ukraine 'De-escalation'
France said Tuesday there would be no let-up in diplomatic efforts to bring peace to Ukraine as the Kiev government announced the end of a ceasefire in the restive east of the country.
France and Germany led efforts overnight to "de-escalate" the conflict with talks held between the foreign ministers of both countries and their counterparts in Russia and Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke with Ukraine's Western-backed president, Petro Poroshenko, Fabius added.
"Unfortunately right now... the result is not satisfactory but we will keep on making all our efforts to come to a de-escalation," he told reporters during a trip to New Delhi.
He said that France and Germany were pushing for a solution that would see a lasting ceasefire, Ukrainian control of its borders and the release of hostages taken during the conflict.
"We hope that we shall come to a de-escalation. France particularly, and Germany as well, are working very hard for a de-escalation," he said during a briefing on the second and final day of his trip to India.
Source: Agence France Presse
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