April 16, 2014
The sharp escalation of the Ukraine crisis virtually puts the country on the brink of civil war, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a telephone call.
Riot police and protestors clash outside the Kiev city council building. Credit: Mstyslav Chernov / Wiki
Merkel’s press office noted that, despite some differences of opinion, the upcoming talks were the main focus of the telephone conversation.
“While there were differences in the interpretation of current events, preparations for the planned meeting in Geneva…were the focus of the talks,” Merkel’s office said in a statement.
Putin meanwhile expressed hope that the Geneva talks will help to de-escalate the situation, and return it to peaceful cooperation.
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