Merkel, NATO chief reconfirm political solution to Ukraine crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday reconfirmed the path of seeking a political solution to the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with Merkel, Stoltenberg said NATO did not want confrontation, but hoped to establish a cooperative and constructive relationship with Russia.

His remarks were echoed by Merkel, who noted that Europe's security could get a better guarantee "if we do not work against each other."

Stoltenberg called on Russia to respect the Minsk peace agreement and use its influence on the pro-independence insurgents in eastern Ukraine to make them respect the Minsk deal and the ceasefire plan.

The NATO chief also praised the German involvement in NATO, adding that Germany will play "the leading role" in establishing the alliance's fast-response troops as an important response to the Ukraine crisis.

As for a four-party summit meeting over Ukraine, which was originally scheduled for this Thursday and then postponed, Merkel said the meeting might still take place.

"We are not ready yet, but we will be working on it with all our might," she added.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has invited the leaders of Russia, France and Germany to talks over the Ukraine crisis in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on Thursday.

The meeting, however, has been postponed on account of differences in opinions between conflict parties.

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