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Chance of success for Franco-German Ukraine initiative remains uncertain: Merkel

Xinhua, February 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel left on Saturday the chance of success for the fresh Franco-German peace initiative over Ukraine crisis open-ended, but stressed the need to make efforts to try to find a solution to the raging conflict.

"It is uncertain whether the talks will succeed," she said at the ongoing 51st Munich Security Conference.

Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks over Ukraine, following their visits to Kiev on Thursday.

Merkel said Friday that the result of the efforts made by Germany and France were open-ended, but stressed it was definitely worth taking the attempt.

The chancellor reiterated that Europe wants to ensure the security in Europe together with Russia, not against the country.

She also expressed willingness to push forward a free trade area "from Lisbon to Vladivostok", but stressed that the end of the Ukraine crisis was the condition for related talks. Enditem