The threat of escalating tensions across Europe persists due to the conflict in Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

"The danger coming from this conflict is far from being gone," the Deutsche Well radio quoted the minister as saying on Thursday.

Steinmeier said in an interview with the newspaper Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung he was worried about the possibility of a new outbreak of tensions in conflict-ridden Ukraine.

Tensions can be defused only if Russia and Ukraine exhibit a genuine interest in a lasting truce, the minister stated.

"Both sides need to understand that this conflict cannot have a military solution," the German foreign minister emphasized.

In his words, the German government will do the utmost "to prevent a new outbreak of large-scale armed confrontations."

Steinmeier believes it is impossible to make rapid progress in settling the crisis in Ukraine because of the large number of hitherto unresolved problems.

"The problem is that we need to discuss the demarcation of the ceasefire line, the withdrawal of heavy armaments and foreign fighters, the access to humanitarian aid and the exchange of captives all at the same time while the position of people in eastern Ukraine has been worsening daily amid the winter," the minister said.

"Progress will be made one small step at a time," he said.

"This is a complete mayhem," the German foreign minister said.