Merkel: New sanctions against Russia possible
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday she could not rule out new sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, following talks with President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev.
"We cannot rule out thinking about further sanctions if things do not progress," Merkel said, calling also for a "bilateral ceasefire and effective border controls" to help end the conflict in the east of the country.
The German chancellor had previously fired a warning at Russia together with President Barack Obama claiming that that Russia was triggering a "dangerous escalation" of the conflict in Ukraine due to its military presence and shelling there.
In a telephone call with Merkel, Obama said the conflict "has continued to deteriorate" since a Malaysian airliner was downed last month over rebel-held territory in Ukraine.
The pair agreed that it was "imperative" that Russia remove its convoy from Ukrainian territory and allow humanitarian aid to be allowed into the region.
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