Merkel Says Prospects For Peace In Ukraine Is Uncertain

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that prospects for peace in Ukraine are “uncertain”, as Francois Hollande, the French President, warned it was “one of the last chances” for peace.

Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met with the Russian President in Moscow on Friday.

Speaking at a security conference in Munich, Mrs Merkel also said it was uncertain whether their talks were successful, but it was worth trying. She defended borders in Europe as “inviolable”.

She accused Moscow of showing “territorial disrespect” for its neighbour, and said international law had been violated.

Russia has shown disrespect for peace and territorial integrity, she said, and Moscow’s actions in Ukraine stand in stark contrast to their commitments.

Mrs Merkel told the summit: “We want to shape security on Europe together with Russia not against Russia.

“Russia needs to do its bit in the Ukrainian crisis as well.

“Changing borders by force is out of line with peace and security, and risks escalation”.

The French, German and Russian leaders met to begin drawing up a new proposal to end the bitter conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande went to Moscow with a peace proposal discussed during a separate meeting with Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, on Thursday.

The new diplomatic push comes as a worsening conflict in eastern Ukraine is taking an increasingly heavy toll on civilians.

Merkel made clear that she would not do a deal with Russia that bypasses Ukraine’s leadership, saying she “will not decide anything over the heads of anyone”. The solution must be in line with the Minsk agreement, she said.

Russia, Ukraine and separatist leaders signed a pact, but continued fighting has left it in shreds. It’s not yet clear how the new proposal differs from the Minsk agreement.

Hollande said on Thursday that the joint proposal for new negotiations would be “based upon the territorial integrity of Ukraine”.