Hollande, Merkel want Moscow to force militants for talks

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have reiterated their calls on Moscow to put further pressure on pro-Russia militants to accept talks to reach a ceasefire.

The two leaders discussed the matter in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Brokering the first ice-breaking meeting between Ukraine and Russia top officials, the two European leaders stressed "the importance to quickly adopt a political solution based on a bilateral cease-fire, to implement a mechanism to control borders with the OSCE and to release all hostages", Xinhua reported

Discussing the recent development in Kiev after Ukrainian forces took back several towns, they also noted the need to show restraint to avoid escalating military offensive and protect civilians, the French presidency said in a communique.

Hollande and Merkel would hold phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days, it added.

In November 2013, Ukraine plunged into a wave of violence prompted by protests against former President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to abandon an association agreement with the European Union for Russian aid.