Germany: Russia, Ukraine should set up mechanism to oversee cease-fire

ABOVE: John Kerry looking for “actions, not just words” from Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW – Germany says the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France have agreed that a mechanism needs to be set up to oversee a cease-fire in Ukraine and monitor the securing of its border with Russia.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert said the four leaders also agreed in a telephone call Wednesday that hostages held in eastern Ukraine should be freed without delay.

READ MORE: Sanctions on Russia could be delayed

Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have been held in Ukraine for weeks.

Seibert didn’t say how a cease-fire oversight mechanism might work but said talks between Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE should continue.