SLAVYANSK - The German and French foreign ministers have made their first visit to Ukraine’s war-torn east, saying they wanted to push a new bid for peace after a recent surge in violence. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault on Thursday visited the Donetsk region and viewed a bridge destroyed in fighting between separatist and government forces in the city of Slavyansk. Ayrault said the two men were looking "to create the conditions for a summit" between French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Ayrault said the ministers wanted to "create the conditions for a new way, a new step in the direction of peace." The report updated the conflict toll, saying that 9,640 people have been killed and 22,431 wounded on both sides.

Source: Viet Nam News September 15, 2016 23:26 UTC