Ukrainian Soldier Killed in Separatist East

The Ukrainian army announced that a soldier was killed Saturday in clashes with Moscow-backed rebels in the separatist east as fears grow that Russia is preparing to invade.

"As a result of a shelling attack, one Ukrainian soldier received a fatal shrapnel wound," the joint military command for east Ukraine reported.

The leader of the Lugansk separatist region in eastern Ukraine issued a general mobilisation order Saturday, with fears rising of a major escalation in fighting.

"I rule to declare a general mobilisation on the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic," said the decree, which was signed by the region's head Leonid Pasechnik.

In the same context, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to hold a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday as tensions spike in the crisis over Ukraine.

On her part, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has stated that the Group of Seven most developed nations (G7) are prepared to have a serious dialogue with Russia on the Ukraine crisis.

Baerbock said: “We will use Munich to send out a message of unity: we are ready for a serious dialogue on security for all.”