European Leaders Put Pressure On Russian President Putin To Convince Ukraine Rebels To Lay Down Their Arms

Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. ITAR-TASS

Merkel, Hollande Call On Putin To Convince Ukraine Rebels To Lay Down Arms -- Deutsche Welle

The leaders of France and Germany have called on Russia to support a cease-fire plan, proposed by Ukraine's president, under threat of sanctions. Meanwhile, heavy fighting has been reported in eastern Ukraine.

In a three-way telephone conversation on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to convince pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine to lay down their arms.

Merkel and Hollande warned Putin that if the Kremlin failed to play a constructive role in ending the violence in Ukraine, the international community would impose additional sanctions against Russia.

The warning came after NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday that Russia had deployed several thousand additional troops to the Ukrainian border, calling it "a very regrettable step backward."

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Update: France, Germany Urge Russia on Cease-Fire With Ukraine -- WSJ

My Comment: The cynic in me is wondering if this has more to do with Russian natural gas supplies to Europe .... than finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.