German Fm Warns Of Escalation Of Fighting İn Ukraine

Germany's Foreign Minister warned on Wednesday that the buildup of Russian troops in Ukraine risked escalating the conflict in the country. 



"There is no sense in rearming and preparing for new military confrontations in the region. This helps no one. We only lose time, something we urgently need," Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart.



His warning came a day after Ukrainian officials announced that several military convoys carrying ammunition and fighters had crossed into eastern Ukraine from Russia.



Steinmeier said that this indicates that pro-Russian separatists are preparing to escalate the conflict.



He urged all parties to avoid taking steps which would make it impossible to continue peace talks. 



"Maybe the Minsk agreement is not perfect, and nobody claims that," Steinmeier said. "But it is time for all sides to return to this grounding," The agreement signed in the capital of Belarus on September 5 called for a cease-fire between rebel pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces which has not been respected. 



-Hungary seeks "healthy and pragmatic relations with Russia



Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed media criticism of Hungary's policy for Russia, at the same press conference. 



"Hungary aims at balanced, healthy and pragmatic relations with Russia and cooperation within this framework. I believe that this is also relevant for all of us in Europe," Szijjarto said at the press conference.



He criticized Russia's annexation of Crimea and said Hungary will continue to follow the EU line imposing sanctions on the country.



"Of course violation of international law is unacceptable. We are happy that the EU has adopted a unified position on that issue. We will continue to stick to the EU line," Szijjarto said.



The conflict in Eastern Ukraine has escalated since the pro-separatist rebel elections in the eastern part of the country on Nov. 2.



The EU has denounced the rebel poll as illegitimate, and said it undermined efforts to resolve the conflict.



However, Russia recognized the vote and separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko was sworn-in as head of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic.



At least 3,600 people have died and 8,700 people have been wounded during the conflict which began in mid-April, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report last month.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Berlin