Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel support only a peaceful way to resolve the situation in eastern Ukraine.

"I am fully convinced that the problem should be resolved as a result of negotiations, and there should be a diplomatic solution," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Poroshenko in Kyiv on Saturday.

Merkel supported the efforts of the Ukrainian president aimed at a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

"We see what Mr. Poroshenko is doing. We understand that there is only a diplomatic solution, and this means that not only Ukraine should defend itself when its territory is attacked, but in principle, it is necessary to seek a diplomatic solution to this problem. I am convinced that there will be no military solution to this problem and that President Poroshenko is walking this path, looking for a peaceful solution," Merkel said.

Poroshenko, in turn, confirmed that he was in favor of a peaceful settlement of the situation in east Ukraine, recalling that a respective presidential peace plan had been drafted.

"The first thing the Ukrainian president did after his inauguration was a unilateral ceasefire declared in order to give the opportunity to sit down at the negotiating table and adopt a peace plan," he said.

In addition, he said, a trilateral contact group involving the OSCE was set up.

"Today consultations are being held as part of the trilateral contact group. The Ukrainian side was ready to declare a ceasefire for the convoy if he had been duly cleared and inspected by Ukrainian border guards and customs services, but that did not happen," Poroshenko said.

"I can assure you that Ukraine is ready and able to ensure a peaceful settlement," he said, adding that foreign mercenaries are blocking this process.

"Please take people with guns from our territory and I can confirm that peace in Ukraine will be established very quickly," Poroshenko said.