Hollande, Merkel: Ukraine truce must be 'fully respected'
A ceasefire brokered by France and Germany was signed last week in the Belarussian capital Minsk
PARIS (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the "Minsk II" ceasefire deal in Ukraine to be "fully respected" after meeting in Paris on Friday.
"The ceasefire has been violated several times. It must now be fully respected along the entire front line," Hollande told a news conference.
A ceasefire brokered by France and Germany was signed last week in the Belarussian capital Minsk, but quickly collapsed as fighting continued between Ukrainian government and separatist forces.
The foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine will meet in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the conflict, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
Hollande and Merkel said they were "even more convinced" that the only solution rested on the implementation of the latest Minsk agreement, including the withdrawal of heavy weapons and release of prisoners.
"It s difficult, it will take a long time, we don t have any illusions, and having seen how the negotiations have unfolded, it will not be a process that will move forward easily," said Merkel.
