"Grave concern" over Ukraine

In a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel conveyed their "grave concern" over the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

According to the French presidency, Hollande and Merkel, "stressed the importance of rapidly reaching a ceasefire in Ukraine."

"It is about creating the conditions to de-escalate the situation on the ground, especially by preventing the transfer of fighters and weapons across the border (with Russia) and calling on the separatists to end their fighting," the statement added.

Their remarks come hours after pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian military plane, killing 49 people.

According to Ukraine's military, rebels fired on the Illyuhsin-76 transport plane with anti-aircraft and heavy machine guns as it prepared to land in the eastern city of Luhansk early on Saturday. The aircraft was carrying troops on rotation, machinery, equipment and supplies.

Ukraine's pro-Western government controls Luhansk airport, but the city itself is in the hands of pro-Russian rebels.

Most deadly single incident

The attack marks the single most deadly incident in more than two months of clashes between pro-Kremlin rebels and Ukrainian army forces in the country's east.

In response to the attack, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with his defense and security chiefs to discuss a response to the downing of a military plane by pro-Russian separatists.

"All those involved in cynical acts of terrorism of this magnitude must be punished," Poroshenko said in a press release. "Ukraine needs peace. However, the terrorists will receive an adequate response."

Russia protests over flag's removal

Russia later accused Ukrainian authorities of failing to protect the Russian embassy in Kyiv.

Shortly after the downing of the transport plane, a crowd of several hundred mostly young people smashed embassy windows and pulled down the Russian tricolor flag.

Demonstrators also overturned several cars belong to embassy staff.

The Russian foreign ministry accused Ukrainian police of inaction and said this amounted to a "grave violation of Ukraine's international obligations."

Gas deal in limbo

Hollande and Merkel also addressed Moscow's threat to cut off Ukrainian gas supplies if Kyiv fails to settle a multi-billion dollar energy bill by Monday's deadline.

"They stressed the need to reach an agreement to settle the issue of the gas supply by Russia to Ukraine," the statement from the French presidency said.

Late on Saturday, Kyiv's energy minster Yuri Prodan said negotiations would "continue on Sunday morning."

"Each side explained its position today. No solution was found," Prodan said.

hc/jr, ipj (AFP, dpa, Reuters)