Obama talks ceasefire with leaders of Ukraine, Germany

RANCHO MIRAGE, California: President Barack Obama has spoken with the leaders of Ukraine and Germany as fighting continued between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine hours before a scheduled ceasefire. The White House says Obama and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (por-oh-SHEHN'-koh) on Saturday stressed the need for all sides to halt the violence beginning after midnight in the region as scheduled. The leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia agreed to the cease-fire this week after a marathon negotiating session in Belarus. The White House says Obama, Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AHN'-geh-lah MEHR'-kuhl) all expressed concern about intense fighting in and around the key government-held railway hub of Debaltseve. Obama spoke with the leaders from aboard Air Force One as it flew him to the Palm Springs area of Southern California for a weekend vacation. Obama also congratulated Poroshenko on securing assistance from the International Monetary Fund to help stabilize the Ukrainian economy. -TOI