By — Darlene Superville, Associated Press Darlene Superville, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/obama-ukrainian-german-leaders-discuss-cease-fire Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Obama meets with world leaders to discuss Ukrainian cease-fire World Feb 15, 2015 1:06 PM EDT RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — President Barack Obama spoke Saturday with the leaders of Ukraine and Germany as fighting continued between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine hours before a scheduled cease-fire. The White House says Obama and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stressed the need for all sides to halt the violence beginning at midnight in the region as scheduled. The leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia agreed to the cease-fire this week after a marathon negotiating session in Belarus. The White House says Obama, Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel all expressed concern over intense fighting in and around the key government-held railway hub of Debaltseve. Obama spoke with the leaders from aboard Air Force One as it flew him to the Palm Springs area of Southern California for a weekend vacation. He also congratulated Poroshenko on securing International Monetary Fund assistance to help stabilize the Ukrainian economy. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Darlene Superville, Associated Press Darlene Superville, Associated Press
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — President Barack Obama spoke Saturday with the leaders of Ukraine and Germany as fighting continued between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine hours before a scheduled cease-fire. The White House says Obama and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stressed the need for all sides to halt the violence beginning at midnight in the region as scheduled. The leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia agreed to the cease-fire this week after a marathon negotiating session in Belarus. The White House says Obama, Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel all expressed concern over intense fighting in and around the key government-held railway hub of Debaltseve. Obama spoke with the leaders from aboard Air Force One as it flew him to the Palm Springs area of Southern California for a weekend vacation. He also congratulated Poroshenko on securing International Monetary Fund assistance to help stabilize the Ukrainian economy. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now