Putin 'preparing for war' Moscow trying to stir up conflict with GERMANY

VLADIMIR Putin is eyeing a seismic confrontation with GERMANY, it has been claimed, as Moscow prepares for OPEN WAR.

   FEARS: Berlin is worried Russia is seeking to weaken. 

   Angela Merkel

Russia is "investing a great deal" in war preparations, Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko has said. 

Vladimir Putin is building up Russian military presence on its Ukrainian border, with the risk of an "open war" between the countries greater than a year ago, Kiev says.

Mr Poroshenko told Der Bild that Moscow is also starting an "information war" against Germany and Angela Merkel, after he met the German Chancellor in Berlin on Monday. 

Berlin fears Moscow is trying to destabilise Europe to creat a vacuum into which it can project its power. 

The Ukrainian chief said Russia had implemented "not one single point" of the Minsk accord, which includes a ceasefire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels. 

WAR: Putin has been accused of amassing Russian.           troops on its border with Ukraine

Mr Poroshenko said: "The danger of an open war is greater than last year. Russia is investing a great deal in war preparations."

Ms Merkel pressed Putin by phone on Tuesday to ensure a ceasefire is upheld in Ukraine European security officials are granted free access to conflict areas.

Berlin is becoming suspicious that Russia is trying to stir up trouble in Germany to weaken Ms Merkel, who has taken a tough line on the crisis triggered when Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014.

German officials say Moscow hopes to destabilise Europe and create a vacuum into which it can project its own power.

Mr Poroshenko added: "Now Putin has opened an information war against Germany as well."

MEETING: Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko with Angela Merkel