German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Kiev on her first visit to the country since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Merkel met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and assured him of Germany’s support. She called for a bilateral ceasefire, stressing that the territorial integrity and prosperity of Ukraine were a key goal of German politics.

The press office of the Ukrainian President informed that the German Chancellor had pledged a loan of EUR 500M to rebuild energy and water supply infrastructure.

Merkel also vowed an additional EUR 25M for refugee accommodation sites. She made clear that no new sanctions against Russia were envisaged so far.

Before heading for Kiev, Merkel had a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama in which both condemned the entry of a Russian convoy reportedly carrying humanitarian aid into Ukraine without Kiev’s permission.

Shortly after Merkel arrived in Kiev, the first trucks of the convoy left Ukraine to return to Russia.

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