Russia refuses to release Ukrainian Sailors

Russia denied the Sailors the release of imprisoned Ukrainian. On a request by Germany and France is unacceptable. From the Ukraine, already violations of the recent ceasefire are reported.

Since the end of November 24 Ukrainian Sailors in Russia are imprisoned. The Ministry of foreign Affairs in Moscow has rejected the release of the men again. This had been demanded by Germany and France together. The Ministry described this as unacceptable and stressed that they believe to Russian law.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron had turned up again yesterday in the Ukraine conflict. In a joint statement, they stressed that the human rights situation on the Russian-annexed Crimea and the use of military violence by Russia in the Kerch Strait is very disturbing. Merkel spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the war in Syria.

Since the end of November

Russian war ships detained had applied the end of November, three Ukrainian Navy ships near the Strait of Kerch and seized. The Russian ships shot up sharply, several Ukrainians were wounded. The crews were imprisoned.

sea of Azov, provides ships access to the Ukrainian industrial ports such as Mariupol and Berdyansk. To do this, ships must travel through the Strait of Kerch, which is located between the annexed Peninsula of Crimea and the Russian mainland. Since Russia is a bridge between the mainland and the Crimea has opened, there are always problems. The bridge is the only Russian land connection to the Peninsula.

fire break apparently unstable

Merkel welcomed the ceasefire in the Southeast of Ukraine, since midnight. The cease-fire between Ukrainian units and pro-Russian separatists should apply according to the organization for security and cooperation in Europe (OSCE) permanent.

However, the parties to the conflict accused the other just a few hours after the beginning of each other the break: According to the separatists, the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk area shot weapons. Agencies in Kiev reported that the separatists had shot with grenade launchers on the positions of the army. In the attack there had been no casualties. An assessment of the OSCE to comply with is not yet available.

Always be re-agreed Ceasefires, for example, on the occasion of the school's commencement, the time of harvest or religious festivals. Mostly they were broken within a short period of time. Fighting in Eastern Ukraine, estimates have been killed, according to UN since 2015, more than 10,000 people.