Germany’s foreign minister says the situation in Ukraine’s rebel-held eastern regions has again become serious and all sides must respect a cease-fire agreement.

Frank-Walter Steimeier said during a visit to Kazakhstan on Monday that everyone involved in the conflict, including Russia, should resume the fulfillment of the cease-fire agreed to in the Belarussian capital of Minsk in September.

His comments came after European monitors reported convoys of heavy weapons and armor pouring into eastern Ukraine from Russia, along with the heavy shelling of the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk.

The White House voiced “grave concern” Sunday over the reports. U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan warned that any move by pro-Russian rebels to seize more territory in Ukraine’s embattled east would be seen as a “blatant violation” of the cease-fire deal.

Meehan urged both sides to fully honor commitments to the September truce, particularly Moscow’s promise to stop the cross-border flow of troops, weapons and supplies.

NATO sources say the tanks moving into Ukraine’s east appeared to be unmanned, and said they did not display any identifying markings. But, a spokesperson said, they “represent a potential for significant reinforcements” to rebel forces.   

Reuters journalists reporting Sunday from inside Donetsk said the shelling appeared more intense than at any time since early October, and said the fire was coming from an area of intense combat. They also reported large plumes of smoke over the ruins of the city’s airport.

The Kyiv government on Friday accused Moscow of sending more than 30 tanks and truckloads of troops to support the pro-Russian rebellion. 

Moscow has repeatedly denied any official military involvement in Ukraine, and has described Russian troops fighting alongside rebels as volunteers.
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