France, Germany threaten Russia over Ukraine poll

BBC Online :
France and Germany have threatened Russia with further sanctions if Ukraine’s presidential election on 25 May fails to go ahead.
President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement they feared further destabilisation of Ukraine. The two leaders also said local referendums in eastern Ukraine planned for Sunday would be illegal.
They called for a visible reduction in Russian forces on the Ukrainian border.
Russia is estimated by Nato to have some 40,000 troops near the border, though Moscow says they have been pulled back.
The statement was issued after the two leaders met in Chancellor Merkel’s constituency in Germany.
“If there is not an internationally recognised presidential election, that would lead unavoidably to a further destabilisation of the country,” it said.
“Germany and France are in agreement that if that is the case then corresponding consequences would be drawn as outlined by the European Council on March 6, 2014.”
Correspondents take this to mean economic sanctions against Russia already authorised by European leaders in March.
Both the European Union and the United States have already imposed sanctions targeting officials and companies linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But the joint statement also called on the Ukrainian government to refrain from military action before the poll, except when needed to protect people or property.
All sides should start disarming irregular forces supervised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe by 15 May at the latest and halt acts of violence, the statement went on.
Ukraine is currently engaged in an “anti-terror” operation in the east of the country to disarm pro-Russian separatists and remove them from buildings they are occupying in at least a dozen towns and cities.