European Parliament president urges political solution to eastern Ukraine conflict

Visiting European Parliament President Martin Schultz here on Friday called for a political resolution to the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine through dialogue and diplomatic consultations.

"All parties and the international community must do their utmost to prevent the situation from getting out of the control. There is the only solution to this issue and it is a political solution," Schultz said when addressing the Ukrainian parliament.

The confronting sides in eastern regions must sit at the negotiating table to adopt a solution to the crisis, he said, adding that international mediators, in particular Russia, should assist the peace establishing process.

Schultz urged the conflicting parties to refrain from violence and avoid provocations, which could further exacerbate the already tense situation in Lugansk and Donetsk regions.

"There is no military solution to this conflict and all sides are well aware that they need to keep themselves calm and abstain from incitement of war and fomentation of nationalist rhetoric," he said.

Schultz arrived in Kiev earlier Friday for a one-day working visit to discuss the situation in Ukraine with the country's authorities. Endi