Ukraine names new defense minister

KIEV, Ukraine — President Petro Poroshenko won parliament’s approval Thursday to shake up the leadership of the Ukrainian armed forces as they struggle to end a rebellion by pro-Russian separatists.

Parliament endorsed Col. Gen. Valery Heletey as defense minister after hearing Poroshenko describe the 46-year-old as a man “who will work day and night for restoring the military capability of our armed forces.” He also named a new chief of the general staff.

Poroshenko took office last month with the country in crisis, as two eastern regions press demands to break away and join Russia, following the example of Crimea earlier this year.

After months of unsuccessful attempts to quash the uprising, he wants to sharpen the army’s effectiveness while exploring diplomatic options to end the crisis, which has revived East-West tensions in ways reminiscent of the Cold War

Meanwhile, France and Germany raised pressure on President Vladimir Putin to push pro-Russian separatists to reach an agreement with Ukraine, as they stepped up diplomacy aimed at reinstating a cease-fire within 48 hours.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Putin on Thursday and “stressed the importance” of seeking a truce between Ukraine and the separatists and defining its conditions, Hollande’s office said in a statement.

The call coincided with reports of continued skirmishes in the eastern part of Ukraine that borders Russia.