During his visit to Norway Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated, "The situation in Ukraine is extremely worrying, and is deteriorating at the moment from day to day". There must be "a swift end to this escalation", urged the Minister. "I have talked by telephone many times with Russian partners and pointed to the urgent need for Russia to use its influence with the separatists in order to convince them to release the members of the OSCE mission being held as quickly as possible," he reaffirmed.

He urged Russia to implement the agreement reached at the four-way talks in Geneva. "The Geneva accord could have been a basis for an initial de-escalation of the entire situation. But we cannot yet see the will of all parties to translate this document into reality," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Unconditional release demanded

On Monday, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert had made it clear that the OSCE military observers, including four Germans, are being detained in violation of every legal system and without any reason. "The German government condemns this hostage-taking utterly." It is an escalation that directly targets the international community.

The men had been paraded publicly the day before by armed separatists. This public parading of OSCE observers and Ukrainian security forces as prisoners is "abhorrent and a flagrant violation of their human dignity," criticised Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "This also violates every rule of proper behaviour and all the standards that were established for just such tense situations as these," he added.

Government spokesperson Steffen Seibert called on the "perpetrators including the self-proclaimed mayor of Slovyansk" unequivocally "to release the men immediately, unconditionally, and unharmed".

The German government is supporting the intensive efforts of the OSCE to engineer their release, he reported. The release of one of the men for medical reasons is a first positive step, he added, but now all other prisoners too must be released.

Russia’s cooperation long overdue

Steffen Seibert urged Moscow to actively commit to the Geneva accord and to make every effort to have the hostages released. "We call on Russia’s leaders to work publicly and behind the scenes for the release of these men, to distance themselves clearly from actions like this, and to use their influence over pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine to bring about the release of prisoners".

The German government is engaged in talks at all levels with the aim of ending this illegal hostage taking as swiftly as possible.

Working for the Geneva accord

The concern of the G7 over the continuing efforts of separatists to destabilise the eastern Ukraine has proved to be justified. Russia has still failed to take any clear position on the actions of the separatists, said Steffen Seibert.

"We have still heard no clear commitment to the agreements reached in Geneva, far less have we seen Russia engaging actively to implement these agreements – as the Chancellor demanded last week in a conversation with President Vladimir Putin."

Steffen Seibert also demanded that Russia stand up for the Geneva declaration. "Russia should state publicly that it supports the declaration of Geneva, that it calls on the armed pro-Russian groups in Ukraine to take a non-violent path and to lay down their weapons". It should do its bit to de-escalate the situation – and withdraw its troops.

The Duma has not yet ended the presidential authorisation to intervene militarily in Ukraine. Indeed, more Russian troops have been stationed along the Ukrainian border.

Additional sanctions

"We do not believe in a military solution," stated Steffen Seibert. "That is precisely why we will be rigorously taking alternative steps." If necessary, these will included sanctions. An extraordinary meeting of the EU permanent representatives held in Brussels on Monday decided to impose travel bans and asset freezes on another 15 individuals.

The Geneva accord
On 17 April, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia and the USA, and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, agreed on concrete, specific steps to de-escalate the situation. The parties agreed:

1. to renounce the use of violence
2. to disarm illegal groups
3. to return occupied buildings
4. on an amnesty.

The OSCE, currently acting as an independent observer in Ukraine, is to play a leading part in implementing this accord.