Angela Merkel admitted that the recent diplomatic effort, aimed at bringing the conflict in eastern Ukraine to an end, may not bring about a peaceful resolution as the Munich Security Conference gets underway.
On Friday, the German chancellor travelled with French President Francois Hollande to Moscow in a spur of the moment trip to engage in a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin over means in which the crisis can be brought to a conclusion.
As reported by The Guardian, Merkel remained unsure as to whether the talks would lead to a peaceful resolution, but expressed that it was an option "worth trying."
"But it is in my view and the French presidents view definitely worth trying.
We owe it to the people affected in Ukraine at the very least", she said, as reported in The Guardian.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 5,000 lives since its inception almost a year ago. While European Union states are eager to implement the Minsk Peace Proposal that was signed last September, talk of outside nations arming the government forces has intensified.
While it has become common knowledge that the United States government is mulling over sending 'lethal aid' to Ukraine, NATO's top military official, US Air Force General Phillip Breedlove, has urged the international community to leave the option of military intervention on the table.
These comments, at a time where international figures have gathered in Munich for the annual security conference, will likely heighten tension, as the crisis is the main focal point on the agenda.
"I don't think we should preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option" Breedlove stated, as reported by Reuters.
Yet the talk of arming the Ukrainian forces appears to be real, especially if nations such as the United States do not want troops being deployed. Even so, some are speculating that arming government troops could spark a proxy war between the US and Russia.
Breedlove's comments however, as clarified by the news agency, were referring to the possibility of sending weapons or capabilities, not seeing a scenario where soldiers are deployed on the ground.
