(VOVworld) – Germany and France urged Russia on Thursday to act as a mediator between political factions in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Putin, European Leaders Back More Active OSCE Role in Monitoring Ukraine Conflict (Photo: OSCE)

According to the French President’s office, during a 3-way phone Thursday, President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russia's Vladimir Putin to encourage separatists in eastern Ukraine to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian authorities. Hollande and Merkel asked Putin to support a meeting by July 5 to set conditions for a ceasefire. Putin expressed deep concern about the growing number of Ukrainian refugees in Russia and civilian casualties eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin said the leaders of Russia, Germany, and France agree that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should play a more active role in monitoring the conflict in Ukraine.