German foreign minister to visit Ukraine

Berlin, May 13 (IANS) German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will travel to Ukraine Tuesday to support the OSCE's efforts to mediate a national dialogue in the crisis-hit country.

The minister will meet representatives of the government in Kiev and plans to visit eastern regions of Ukraine, the government said.

With his visit, the minister aims to help defuse the ongoing crisis in the country and support efforts of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to start a national dialogue between the government and militant groups, Xinhua quoted the German foreign ministry as stating.

The OSCE announced Monday that a "round table" bringing together different parties in the Ukraine crisis is due to begin in Kiev Wednesday.