Finland Times

     The statement said that Finland is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and strongly condemns the strikes against the civilians in Mariupol.

     President Niinistö and the cabinet called on all parties involved in the conflict to calm down the situation.

     It also emphasized that Russia should use its influence to ease military conflict in eastern Ukraine in line with its international commitments.

     The Ukraine police said rebels launched heavy rocket attacks on Mariupol,a coastal city in Ukraine, on Saturday, leaving at least 30 people dead and nearly 100 injured.

Meanwhile, Foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU) Federica Mogherini said on Sunday that she decided to convene an extraordinary ministerial meeting to discuss the Ukraine crisis amid escalation of violence in the country in the coming Thursday.

     "I'm convening an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council next Thursday on Ukraine," Mogherini said on her twitter account.

       In an official statement, Mogherini said she convened the meeting in a background of Saturday's rocket attack on the government-controlled port city of Mariupol in restive eastern Ukraine, in which the death toll has risen to 30.

        The statement also noted she has spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Sunday, calling Russia to use its "considerable influence" over rebel leaders and to stop the hostile action there.