Talks between Kiev, southeast Ukraine protesters needed, Russia FM says to Germany counterpart

MOSCOW, June 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in Ukraine in a telephone conversation with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Telephone talks were held on Sunday in view of phone conversations between President Vladimir Putin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. “It was stated that at this moment of time a stable ceasefire should be attained as a definite condition to begin taking practical steps to launch dialogue between Kiev authorities and representatives of protesters in southeast Ukraine,” the ministry’s press service said. Related news