(VOVworld) – Germany and France have called for ensuring the autonomy of the eastern regions in a new Ukrainian institution.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L), Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (centre), and French President Francois Hollande try to formulate a peace plan to stop an upsurge in fighting in east Ukraine earlier this year (Photo: AP)

In a telephone call on Tuesday with the Chairman of Ukraine’s Parliament Vladimir Groisman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande expressed their support for parties involved in the Ukraine conflict to reach consensus on institutional reform towards holding local elections, in order to ensure Ukraine’s territorial integrity and long-term stability in the eastern regions.