German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Wednesday the re-run of
Ukraine's presidential election isthe only way to solve the crisis in the
country.
A political solution must be found and "this cannot succeed without a re-run
of the election," Schroeder told the German parliament.
The German government would not allow the Ukrainian situation to affect the
strategic partnership between Russia and Germany, Schroeder said.
Schroeder said he supported the European Union's efforts to mediate the
crisis, adding that the EU carries greater weight in foreign diplomacy than any
of its members including Germany.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed that "the result ofa democratic
process which reflects the will of the Ukrainian people must be respected by
all," Schroeder said.
In a telephone conversation Tuesday, Putin and Schroeder pledged to respect
"the result of a new election taking place on the basis of the Ukrainian
constitution and reflecting the political will of the Ukrainian
people."
