Chancellor Angela Merkel underscored once more that there can be no military solution. There was broad agreement on this point among NATO member states, she said after the deliberations on Thursday evening.

"We support Ukraine. We are demonstrating solidarity. We are also willing to impose additional sanctions to underline our political demands," said the Chancellor.

The message sent is also, however, "We want to see a political solution. Of course we are willing to speak with Russia, and the Ukrainian President is the first to state his readiness." This "twin-track strategy" is the key to success in her opinion, said the Chancellor.

Deliberations on EU sanctions

On Friday afternoon the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU will be meeting in Brussels to agree on a possible stepping up of sanctions on Russia.

"A violation of international law must have consequences," the Chancellor stressed on Monday in a government statement, with a view to new sanctions.

We have repeatedly made it plain that we cannot simply stand and watch Russia’s actions, said the Chancellor in the Bundestag. The sanctions have been agreed with an overwhelming consensus between the EU and the USA. That is why, at their special meeting on Saturday, the heads of state and government of the EU have asked the European Commission to prepare additional substantial steps in view of the latest escalation of the situation in Ukraine.

In her address, the Chancellor reaffirmed that the conflict cannot be resolved using military means. All EU states agree on this point, and work will continue to achieve political solutions. The focus is on a swift ceasefire and on securing Ukraine’s borders, she added.

Hope of a ceasefire

The Contact Group for Ukraine will meet on Friday in Minsk. On Wednesday evening in a telephone conversation with President Poroshenko, Angela Merkel welcomed the fact that the Contact Group (which consists of representatives of the OSCE, Ukraine and Russia) aims to agree on initial concrete steps with the separatists.

Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier sees the meeting in Minsk as a chance "to move towards defusing the conflict". He said so after talks with the Ukrainian President at the NATO summit in Wales. President Poroshenko was "cautiously optimistic that a phase of serious negotiations has now begun".