(VOVworld) - During a Tuesday phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to step up diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis. 

Putin and Merkel spoke about restoring the ceasefire immediately in Ukraine   (Source: VNA)

This will mean contacts between foreign ministers and leaders' aides within the Normandy format in the earliest possible timeframe, and subsequent discussions of the situation at the top level. The two leaders spoke about restoring the ceasefire immediately in Ukraine and supported the efforts of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in this context. They also noted the deterioration of the situation in Ukraine’s southeastern region and expressed serious concern over the escalating armed conflict, which has caused fatalities and significant destruction of civil infrastructure and homes in several Donbas towns.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Tuesday martial law may be declared in Ukraine if tensions escalate.