EU ministers seek ways to defuse Ukraine crisis

European foreign ministers are discussing how to help foster a political solution to the crisis engulfing Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier said Monday that the renewed protests by tens of thousands in Ukraine over the weekend have underlined the need for a far-reaching political solution and clearly showed that “Ukrainians won’t accept foul compromises.”

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was set to brief the foreign ministers at their meeting in Brussels about her two days of talks in Kiev with the Ukrainian leadership and the opposition last week.

Ukraine has been rocked by nearly three months of anti-government protests sparked by President Viktor Yanukovich’s refusal to sign a wide-ranging trade agreement with the EU and accept a $15 billion loan package from Russia instead.