Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German minister of foreign affairs | Johannes Simon/Getty Images Germany to push for fresh Russia-Ukraine talks Frank-Walter Steinmeier invited foreign ministers to Berlin May 11.

The German government wants to "give new momentum" to peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Sunday.

"We have lost time. The cease-fire has become more fragile ... I think it is necessary that we now give new momentum to overcoming the obstacles between Kiev and Moscow," Steinmeier told German newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag.

Steinmeier has invited foreign ministers to meet in Berlin May 11 to discuss the preparation of local elections in eastern Ukraine. The German minister said "concrete proposals [are] now on the table" that include "interesting restabilization proposals."

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said Thursday the country is ready to discuss local elections in Donbass, the eastern-Ukrainian region.