(VOVworld) – The German Federal Foreign Office said that Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia would hold a new round of negotiations for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, after separate talks between their foreign ministers on Monday.

Kiev's military campaign has caused several casualties in eastern Ukraine. (Photo: AFP)

An announcement from the foreign office said that the parties were working on organising a direct meeting between the Contact Group and representatives of the federalist protesters. Another online meeting would be held before July 15. The Contact Group consists of delegates from Russia, Ukraine, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),
Last week was the bloodiest in eastern Ukraine since Kiev launched its military campaign to suppress federalist protesters there. Militants from the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Lugansk shot down 2 aircraft in Lisichansk and Izvarino, one a transport aircraft An-26. Tension in Ukraine escalated after news that a Ukrainian shell landed on Russian territory, killing a Russian citizen.