Berlin Urges Moscow to Step Up Ukraine Border Controls

The German government called on Russia Wednesday to step up its border controls to prevent pro-Russian separatists or weapons going into crisis-hit Ukraine.

Berlin expects that Moscow "along its border with Ukraine prevents separatists ready for violence from infiltrating, or that large quantities of weapons are transported", spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters.

Ukraine's newly elected president has vowed to quickly end an eastern revolt after a fierce army push to reclaim a major airport in Donetsk saw more than 40 pro-Russian rebels killed.

A German foreign ministry spokesman also voiced "growing concern" over clashes in Donbass in eastern Ukraine which, he told reporters, were increasing in "fierceness and intensity".

This was down to a new type of weapons being used by the rebels, he said.

"We've seen that in recent days at Donetsk airport and we very much hope that the new Ukrainian leadership... manages to get the situation there back under control," Martin Schaefer said.

He stressed the need for Ukrainian forces to follow "the principle of proportionality" in their response.