KIEV, July 10 - German Chancellor Angel Merkel and French President Francois Hollande took the rare step Friday of pressing Ukraine's Western-backed leader to ensure partial self-rule for the pro-Russian separatist east, AFP reported.

The blunt message from two of President Petro Poroshenko's most important allies marked another sign of European impatience with fighting that still engulfs the ex-Soviet nation five months after the signing of a broad truce.