Leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine to meet Monday on escalating violence

PARIS - Leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine will meet in Berlin on Monday in a diplomatic move to halt a new wave of escalating violence in eastern Ukraine, a French official said on Wednesday.

After a daily e-press briefing, Romain Nadal, spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, announced the meeting would take place on Aug. 24 with French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Ukrainian President Petro Porochenko.

"We remain concerned about the situation's development in the east of Ukraine. It is necessary that all parties ensure the implementation of all the points provided in Minsk's package of measures," Nadal added.

France and Germany, which brokered a first ice-breaking meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader, urged rival sides to "contribute constructively" to negotiations regarding imposing a lasting peace deal, he said.

Sporadic clashes are still occurring despite the Feb. 12 Minsk ceasefire agreement, which demanded a complete end to hostilities,

the withdrawal of heavy weapons, and prisoner exchanges.

In a recent new wave of violence, at least two Ukrainian soldiers and several civilians were killed early this week during battles near the port of Mariupol in the southeast of Ukraine, according to media reports.