Ukraine is on the verge of civil war after the decision of the central government in Kiev to send an army against separatist rebels in the east of the country, warned the President of Russia Vladimir Putin German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to the statements made by Kremlin on Wednesday.

“The Russian president noted that the sharp escalation of the conflict has brought the country to the brink of civil war”, stressed Kremlin in a statement released at the end of the telephone conversation between the two leaders.