Merkel, Obama and Putin call for ‘political solution’ in Ukraine

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama joined with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to call for an urgent political solution to the deadly crisis gripping Ukraine.

“The chancellor and the presidents have reached an agreement to call for a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine as quickly as possible and for an end to the bloodbath,” the German government said in a statement released after phone calls between the Western leaders and Putin, who have been at odds over Ukraine’s future.

Merkel telephoned the two presidents and during the conversation informed them of the talks that three EU envoys — the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland — have been having with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders.

Yanukovych indicated to the EU ministers that he would be willing to hold early elections.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Twitter that some progress was being made in the negotiations in Kiev “but important differences remain”.

The White House released a statement saying Obama and Merkel “agreed that it is critical that the United States, Germany and the European Union continue to stay in close touch in the days ahead on steps we can take to support an end to the violence, and a political solution that is in the best interests of the Ukrainian people”.