EU, NATO, Germany Urge End to Violence in Ukraine

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday denounced the "grave new escalation" in Kiev, where at least five people were killed and scores hurt as protestors battled police.

"I am deeply worried about the grave new escalation in Kiev and the reported victims," Ashton said in a statement, saying she condemned "all use of violence, including against public or party buildings."

"I urge the leadership of Ukraine to address the root causes of the crisis," she added, calling for an urgent return to a parliamentary process.

"Political leaders must now assume their shared responsibility to rebuild trust and create the conditions for an effective solution to the political crisis," she said.

"A solution should include the formation of a new inclusive government, progress on constitutional reform and the preparation for transparent and democratic presidential elections. The EU stands ready to assist Ukraine in this process."

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was "seriously concerned" and urged "all parties to refrain from violence and to urgently resume dialogue, including through the parliamentary process."

Earlier, Germany's foreign minister urged an end to the deadly violence in Ukraine Tuesday, speaking after a phone call with his counterpart in Kiev.

"I urgently call on the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to... seek a political solution through talks," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"A return to violence in Ukraine is certainly not a way to reach a settlement and a good future for the country," he said after a phone call with Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara.

At least five protesters were killed and around 150 wounded, some seriously, in fresh clashes with police in Kiev on Tuesday, opposition medics said.

Steinmeier praised recent Ukraine mediation efforts by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and said they should continue.

Ukraine plunged into turmoil after President Viktor Yanukovych refused in November to sign a landmark political and trade deal with the European Union and turned instead to the country's former master Russia, infuriating pro-EU Ukrainians.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday met two Ukraine opposition leaders, the world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a pro-EU former foreign minister.