Russian pranksters call Merkel posing as Ukraine’s ex-leader

Angela Merkel (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Russian pranksters posing as Ukraine’s ex-president Petro Poroshenko managed to contact Angela Merkel by phone to discuss developments in Ukraine and Belarus, although the former German chancellor was wary about the entire call, Mrs Merkel’s office has said.

Mrs Merkel’s office said the former German leader received a call on January 12 from someone claiming to be Mr Poroshenko.