Russian leader reiterates need for urgent measures to stop bloodshed in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held telephone conversations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the Kremlin press service said.

"The sides voiced their extreme concern over the sharp escalation of the armed confrontation in Ukraine that happened through the fault of the opposition's radical wing," it said.

"Putin emphasized that it is imperative to immediately stop the bloodshed and take urgent measures to stabilize the situation and suppress any extremist and terrorist sorties," the press service said.

"The Russian president informed Merkel and Cameron that Russia's Commissioner for Human Rights Vladimir Lukin was heading to Kiev for the purposes of mediation," it said.

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