Germany urges Russia, Ukraine to de-escalate conflict

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas speaks during a news conference following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin in Kiev, Ukraine January 18, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Friday urged both Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine and said France and Germany were ready to help by monitoring naval traffic near the Crimean coast.

Speaking in Kiev after a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin, Maas again called for Moscow to release of the crews of three Ukrainian navy vessels it seized in November off Crimea. He said Russia must allow ships to pass through the Kerch Strait that leads to the Sea of Azov.