Obama speaks to German, Ukrainian leaders about Ukraine violence

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gestures as he arrives for the chairman's debate at the 51st Munich Security Conference at the 'Bayerischer Hof' hotel in Munich February 8, 2015. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (Reuters) - President Barack Obama spoke to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday and expressed concern about the violence in Ukraine while pressing for implementation of a ceasefire agreement, the White House said.

“The president spoke with Ukrainian President Poroshenko today to express his sympathy for the mounting toll of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and his deep concern about the ongoing violence, particularly in and around Debaltseve,” the White House said in a statement about the call with the Ukrainian leader.