Mogherini, Poroshenko discuss situation in Eastern Ukraine

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini has spoken last evening with President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko following the attack launched by separatists on Mariupol.

They discussed the deteriorating situation on the ground in Eastern Ukraine and the possible means to address the situation. They agreed to stay in close contact in the coming hours, her spokesperson Maja Kocijancic, said in a statement.

In a separate statement last night, the EU foreign policy chief had condemned the rocket attack on the port city of Mariupol in Eastern Ukraine in which 20 people were reported killed.

"This further escalation of the open armed conflict has tragic consequences for a population greatly suffering already for far too long. It would inevitably lead to a further grave deterioration of relations between the EU and Russia," she stressed.

On his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the fighting in eastern Ukraine has sharply escalated.

"This is in utter disregard of the ceasefire. The shelling of residential areas in the city of Mariupol from separatist-controlled territory has cost the lives of at least 20 civilians, and injured many more," he said in a statement here Saturday night.

"For several months we have seen the presence of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, as well as a substantial increase in Russian heavy equipment such as tanks, artillery and advanced air defence systems" he noted.

The NATO chief said "Russian troops in eastern Ukraine are supporting these offensive operations with command and control systems, air defence systems with advanced surface-to-air missiles, unmanned aerial systems, advanced multiple rocket launcher systems, and electronic warfare systems." He strongly urged "Russia to stop its military, political and financial support for the separatists, stop destabilising Ukraine and respect its international commitments." Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders expressed his shock "by the murderous and destructive impact of the recent armed violence on the civilian population in eastern Ukraine." "Never before in this conflict have the commitments made by the parties concerned been so removed from reality on the ground," he said in a statement.

Reynders called on the leadership of the Russian Federation to exercise their undeniable influence on the self-proclaimed authorities and armed rebels.