Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel has expressed concern over the situation in eastern Ukraine.

The ceasefire regime is not observed, she stated at the joint press-conference before the meeting with the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Berlin on Monday. Thus, it is important to take measures towards fulfilling the Minsk agreements, even if this is a difficult path, DW reports. 

Poroshenko, for his part, stressed that Kiev depends on the EU support in solving the conflict in the country’s east. He recalled that seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another 17 were wounded in the conflict zone during the recent two days. According to the President, Moscow didn’t react to the calls of Ukraine and OSCE on the shootings of Ukrainian servicemen.

If the situation doesn’t change, the sanctions against Russia should not only be retained but also toughened, he said. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader expressed hope for the resumption of “normal format” talks on the peaceful settlement in Ukraine, that is one with the participation of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France. In his words, he sees no alternative to the “Minsk agreements.”