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Merkel Joins Diplomacy Rush to Avert Ukraine Military Misstep

  • Merkel and Putin speak by phone as Polish minister visits Kyiv
  • Efforts aimed at avoiding repeat of Russia-Georgia war in 2008
Ukrainian servicemen work on their tank close to the front line with Russian-backed separatists near Lysychansk, Lugansk region on April 7.

Ukrainian servicemen work on their tank close to the front line with Russian-backed separatists near Lysychansk, Lugansk region on April 7.

Source: AFP/Getty Images
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined a growing diplomatic effort by Ukraine’s allies to help avoid a potentially catastrophic miscalculation over the buildup of Russian forces on the border.

Merkel told Putin on during a phone call Thursday that Russia must reverse the buildup of troops in the area of eastern Ukraine to help achieve “a de-escalation of the situation,” according to her spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer.