Merkel promises more support to Ukraine during Poroshenko visit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday promised Ukraine further assistance to achieve a peaceful solution in eastern regions of the country during a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
On March 11, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved in Berlin a new four-year extended arrangement of 17.5 billion U.S. dollars for Ukraine to support its immediate economic stabilization.
The IMF program would be "well implemented," said Merkel, adding that "Germany is also willing to help."
Referring to the Minsk peace agreement, Merkel noted that a ceasefire was still not achieved, and that it was important to ensure the withdrawal of heavy weapons from both sides.
On his first official visit to Berlin, Poroshenko stressed that Ukraine would do its best to implement the Minsk peace agreement. "There is no alternative to the Minsk peace agreement," he said.