BERLIN (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, the UN chief held a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
"We discussed the situation in Ukraine, sharing concern about the continued human suffering and the urgent need to implement Minsk agreement," Ban said at the joint press conference with Merkel.
He commended the chancellor's personal contribution to the peace process in Ukraine.
Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence militias in Ukraine’s east in April 2014. The confrontation has claimed over 9,000 lives, according to UN estimates.
In February 2015, leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine worked out a ceasefire deal in Minsk later signed by Kiev and the Donbas militia. Despite the fact that the agreement was reached over a year ago, both sides have repeatedly reported violations of the deal.
