"Unfortunately after a certain lull over Easter, we are now seeing a renewed increase in the number of ceasefire violations," said Chancellor Angela Merkel when she met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Meseberg. In eastern Ukraine, the cessation of hostilities that came into force on 1 April remains fragile and has not really been holding.

Angela Merkel stressed that she would be discussing the next political steps as well as humanitarian issues with Petro Poroshenko. "The fate of the people affected remains exceptionally difficult," she underlined. "If we can achieve something on the humanitarian level, that would be major progress in itself."

Normandy format meetings should be continued swiftly

The Chancellor continues to trust in Normandy format meetings, with the involvement of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France. At their first meeting, the new French President Emmanuel Macron undertook to continue the Minsk process, she reported.

"The Normandy format will continue to exist in future," stated Angela Merkel clearly. "We will be seeking opportunities very quickly for the four heads of state and government – three presidents and myself – to establish contact with one another."

Meeting in this "Normandy format" or "N4", a name that comes from the first meeting of this sort on 6 June 2014, have been held since then at various different levels to negotiate. The focus is on achieving the practical implementation of the package of measures agreed in Minsk, primarily a ceasefire, withdrawal of troops and political reform. At the last top-level meeting on 19 October 2016 in Berlin, a concrete roadmap was adopted to this end.

Pushing ahead with reform policies

Another matter discussed by the Chancellor and Petro Poroshenko was the Ukrainian reform agenda, which is to bring the country forward on the road to democratisation, the rule of law, anti-corruption and economic revival.

"We will also be discussing the bilateral assistance that Germany is giving Ukraine as it moves towards becoming a society that offers its people greater prosperity," announced Angela Merkel.