German FM calls for responsibility for Ukraine's unity

BERLIN - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Saturday urged all parties in Ukraine to act in the interests of the country's territorial integrity and national unity.

"In this critical situation, all sides must be aware of their responsibility for the future and the national unity of Ukraine," Steinmeier said in a statement. He urged those with responsibility to halt the political escalation in the country.

"Maintaining communication channels and being willing to make compromises are more necessary then ever. The basis of all political decisions must be the upholding of Ukraine's territorial integrity and national unity," he said.

The minister noted that Ukraine now needs a functioning transitional government which can restore public order throughout the land. The deal signed by the Ukrainian government and the opposition on Friday, brokered by himself and the Polish and French foreign ministers, offers a reasonable road map for that, he added.