German, French Foreign Ministers In Ukraine

The foreign ministers of Germany and France have arrived in Kyiv for a visit aimed at reaffirming EU support for Ukraine’s leadership.

The visit by Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Jean-Marc Ayrault comes after Ukraine's pro-Western coalition lost its majority in parliament last week, triggering fears of political instability.

In a joint editorial published on February 22, Steinmeier and Ayrault praised Ukraine for its reforms thus far, but also urged Kyiv to push for greater progress in battling corruption.

The two wrote that reforms are so important that "all political and economic forces in the country" should take part.

They also noted the importance of enacting the peace agreement signed in Minsk one year ago.

The accords brought major hostilities in Ukraine to an end and installed a fragile cease-fire.

More than 9,100 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine in the past two years of fighting.

Based on reporting by AFP and FAZ.net