PARIS, Sha'ban 17, 1436, June 04, 2015, SPA -- France's foreign ministry called on Thursday for an immediate an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine after an upsurge in violence over recent days, Reuters reported. "We are concerned by the information relating to battles in Maryinka," foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal told reporters in an online briefing. "They have to stop immediately." Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists on Wednesday fought their first serious battles in months and Ukraine's defence minister said an attempt by rebels to take the eastern town of Maryinka had been thwarted. Nadal also called for an "unconditional" implementation of peace agreements reached February in Minsk to ensure a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict. --SPA 14:27 LOCAL TIME 11:27 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w