German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called Tuesday on the Ukrainian government and anti-fascist resistance forces in the country's east to respect their ceasefire agreement.

The Minsk accord signed on September 5 was supposed to freeze the front lines in the civil war, but has been violated by both sides - with the Kiev regime continuing a murderous bombardment of rebel-held cities such as Donetsk.

Mr Steinmeier's approach stood in contrast to that of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who laid the blame Monday on the ongoing war on Russia, accusing Moscow of "undermining peace across Europe."

Ukraine's conflict began when a right-wing coup backed by the US and EU overthrew the elected government in February.

Mr Steinmeier said: "(The) Minsk (ceasefire deal) wasn't perfect. And we all know that Minsk was broken.

"But Minsk remains a reference point, and that's why I call for us to keeping working on it."