Hollande, Merkel, Poroshenko call for Ukraine ceasefire

French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have called for "an immediate ceasefire" in eastern Ukraine, the press service of the French president says.

On Sunday, Hollande held a phone conversation with Merkel and Poroshenko to discuss the current situation in eastern Ukraine a day after the latest round of talks collapsed, the press service added.

The three leaders expressed concerns over the recent surge of violence between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian forces in the east and voiced their regret for "the failure of the talks" in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Saturday.

The talks were held by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine -- which is comprised of representatives from the Ukrainian government, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- and representatives of pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Tension build-up

Clashes in Ukraine’s east intensified on Sunday as both Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia forces struggled for the control of the strategic government-held town of Debaltseve.

"People are fleeing because the shelling is non-stop. There's no water, electricity or heating in the town," a local police commander said.

"With every slam of the door or whistle, we are reminded of the explosions and everything that happened," said Ira Akhmutova, 15, who left Debaltseve along with her mother.

The continued fighting and climbing casualty figures came as the peace talks collapsed on Saturday just hours after they began.

Ukraine's representative, former President Leonid Kuchma, left the talks, and told reporters that pro-Russia officials had destabilized the talks by making ultimatums and refusing "to discuss a plan of measures for a quick ceasefire and a pull-back of heavy weapons.”

However, a representative of the pro-Russian forces, Denis Pushilin, told reporters they were prepared for negotiations, “but not ready for ultimatums from Kiev while shelling by their forces is going on in the background of towns in the Donbass (industrialized eastern Ukraine)."

On September 5 last year, the Contact Group held talks in Minsk, which led to Kiev and pro-Russia fighters agreeing on a 12-point peace plan, known as the Minsk Protocol.

However, the truce has been violated almost daily by both the Ukrainian military and pro-Russia forces.

MSM/NT/AS

Related stories:

40 die in Ukraine as Minsk talks fail Sun Feb 1, 2015 

Ukraine peace talks fall through Sat Jan 31, 2015

Minsk hosts Ukraine peace talks Sat Jan 31, 2015

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