The German government has "of course noted the Human Rights Watch report, and the denials of the Ukrainian government." Steffen Seibert added, "We have no way of ascertaining the truth of these claims at this moment."

Banning inhuman practices

The report was unable to establish conclusively which side had used the cluster munitions, but the accusations are extremely serious, stressed the government spokesperson. "We consider the use of cluster bombs to be inhuman." The "submunition" dispersed by the individual bombs "is a massive threat to the civilian population even years later as the unexploded ordnance remains armed."

Steffen Seibert stated unequivocally, "Should bombs of this sort have been used in Ukraine – by whatever side, the German government would condemn the act resoundingly."

The Federal Republic of Germany joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2008. Neither Ukraine nor Russia has yet signed the Convention.

"The German government would welcome both countries taking this step swiftly," said the government spokesperson, and pointed in this context to the report of the UN special representative on human rights, which also points to serious human rights violations "perpetrated in particular by the separatists who are supported by Russia," said Steffen Seibert.

Killing, torture, abduction, terrorisation of the population and other extremely serious human rights violations are mentioned. The German government is "very much interested in seeing these matters investigated – and by that I obviously also mean the claims regarding the use of cluster bombs," said the spokesperson.

Core demands not yet met

The German government calls on the parties to the conflict to cooperate on thoroughly investigating these claims. "For this it would be particularly important to end the violence in Donetsk and Luhansk, and restore a legitimate state order through free and fair elections monitored and supervised by international teams," said Steffen Seibert.

The Chancellor declared last week in the German Bundestag that the situation in Ukraine is still extremely difficult. Despite the ceasefire, reports are received every day of fighting and victims. Russia is called on here to make a "crucial contribution to de-escalation".

Gas dispute still unresolved

The German government is also interested in seeing "a mutual agreement in the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia as soon as possible," said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert. "An agreement of this sort – provided it were watertight – would also be a clear sign of de-escalation and certainly a contribution, a commitment to stabilising the situation," said the spokesperson.

Now the aim must be to achieve an agreement of this sort, through the mediation efforts of European Commissioner Günther Oettinger. The extent to which financial aid will need to be discussed is part of this process, he added.

The supply situation in Germany is still good, reported the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. "There is no reason to fear gas shortages," said a spokesperson on Wednesday. Transit through the Ukraine is not currently being interrupted in any way.

Germany has a well diversified pipeline structure. The EU has also taken steps at European level (in Regulation No. 994/2010 on gas supply security). Parallel to this, the European Commission is deliberating on procedures.