German FM in Ukraine to help broker dialogue
德國總理抵達烏克蘭促成對話

Germany’s Foreign Minister has traveled to Ukraine to help broker dialogue there. It comes just one day after opposition groups in two of the country’s Eastern regions announced they’d like to join Russia.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Kiev early on Tuesday morning and met Ukraine’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister first thing at the airport. They were on their way to Brussels.

Germany has been playing a key role in efforts to defuse tension here. And Steinmeier wants the momentum increased before a key nationwide vote in less than two weeks’ time.

Steinmeier said: "The presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25th play a decisive role. And as we have said before it’s important that as many people as possible participate in them."

For his part, the Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said he remained open to a national dialogue, and that he welcomed the involvement of key foreign players.

"Our position was, is and will be unchanged. We consider that an international format of negotiations must consist of four sides - Ukraine, the European Union, the United States and Russian Federation," he said.

Meanwhile officials here announced plans for a "roundtable" to be held at Parliament on Wednesday. It’s slated to include the prime minister, various heads of regional government and representatives, at least two former Ukrainian presidents, the current candidates for president, and MPs from different parties.

But just hours before the announcement, the acting president Oleksandr Turchynov said he'd try to ban Ukraine’s Communist Party. He’s accused them of having backed eastern separatists.

Turchynov said: "There is a lot of information and materials on the complicity of the members of the Communist Party in the organization of separatist and terrorist activity. I am addressing the Ministry of Justice to consider this issue. If there is evidence, the minister should submit materials to the court to ban the Communist Party of Ukraine."

Oleksandr Turcyhnov was speaking in response to comments made by Petro Symonenko, the head of the Communist Party, in which he referred to Ukraine’s soldiers as "executioners."

It’s not clear if the court would in fact ban the party. But critics say doing so would hardly be the right foot upon which to start a national dialogue.