Merkel urges political settlement to violence in Ukraine

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called for exerting every possible effort to launching "a political process" that could curb the spiraling violence in Ukraine. The EU members have to press ahead with the political process in Ukraine because sanctions are not sufficient alone, she told reporters after her meeting with French President Francois Hollande in Paris. Both Germany and France will do their utmost to re-launch this process and curb violence, Merkel affirmed. She highlighted the need for forming an interim government in Ukraine and holding free elections in order to resolve the current political standoff as early as possible. The German chancellor noted that she has told Russian President Vladimir Putin of the visit German, French and Polish foreign ministers plan to pay to Kiev, capital of Ukraine, tomorrow. She added that EU members agreed to keep in touch with Russia on the Ukraine affair. The EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet tomorrow in Brussels to discuss the nature of the sanctions the bloc plans to impose on the Ukrainian government. Merkel arrived here earlier today for the summit talks with Hollande on the bilateral ties and the Ukrainian crisis. The French leader condemned as unacceptable the violent crackdown by the Ukrainian police forces against protesters in Kiev. He called, in press statements earlier today, for immediate halt to the use of excessive force against protesters and affirmed the need for EU sanctions on the Ukrainian officials.