Merkel, Tusk against Ukraine sanctions for now

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday rejected the use of sanctions against Ukraine. "We do not feel the need to examine this issue right now," Merkel said after meeting Tusk in Berlin, adding "not for the time-being." Both leaders stressed all Europeans were hoping for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Merkel called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to sign a bill withdrawing controversial anti-demonstration laws that was passed last week by parliament in Ukraine. "The words must now be followed by action," said Merkel. Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urged the European Union to impose sanctions against Yanukovych. The U.S. government is said to be preparing sanctions against several Ukrainian political figures. The United States has already revoked the visas of several Ukrainian government representatives. Ukraine's wave of protests seems unlikely to subside any time soon, despite parliament scrapping controversial anti-protest laws and the government stepping down. Activists say they will continue to stage demonstrations, pressing for fulfillment of all their demands, including early presidential and parliamentary elections, release of all detained protesters and a review of the constitution