Putin, Merkel discuss Ukraine in phone call

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday it backed a “peaceful solution” to fighting in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine in a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Moscow said.

"The parties expressed serious concern over the escalating armed conflict, which has caused human fatalities and significant destruction of the civil infrastructure and residential areas in several Donbass towns," the Kremlin said in a statement.

It also said the leaders spoke about restoring a cease-fire "immediately" and supported efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)'s special monitoring mission.

"The parties agreed to intensify diplomatic efforts to assist with the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis," it added.

Tuesday’s comments follow a European Union foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday. The bloc's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said Europe still did not recognize the “illegal annexation” of Crimea by Russia and called for the implementation of the 2014 Minsk agreement.

Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014. Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia separatists has seen around 9,750 people killed, according to the UN.