Germany pushing for new Ukraine talks in Geneva
BERLIN (AP) — Germany is pushing for a second round of diplomatic talks in Geneva in an effort to halt the violence in Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told ARD television late Sunday all parties must push for a return to the accord reached in Switzerland last month encouraging all sides to lay down arms.
Steinmeier said new talks are needed in the wake of recent violence to produce a "clear conclusion as to how this conflict can be brought to a halt."
He said he has been pushing for the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Steinmeier called anew for an expanded OSCE role, saying its observers had provided "highly important" information.
