(VOVworld) – French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday pointed to the necessity to quickly reach a cease-fire in Ukraine, a pillar stone in the diplomatic process to de-escalate violence in Kiev.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AFP)

During phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two European leaders "expressed their deep concern over the continuing fighting in east of Ukraine." On Saturday morning, a Ukrainian military cargo plane was shot down by anti-government militants in the eastern city of Lugansk, killing 49 Ukrainian troops. The French president reiterated Paris’ "full support" to negotiations between Moscow and Kiev to find a diplomatic alternative to the crisis.