Ukraine elections
Ukraine to inaugurate comedian Zelensky as president
A month after scoring a landslide victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko in polls, the 41-year-old becomes Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet president.
Merkel, who met incumbent Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko earlier this month in Berlin, added that she would welcome receiving Zelensky soon.
Partial results published on April Fools' Day -- an irony not lost on Ukrainians on social media -- showed Volodymyr Zelensky taking 30% in Sunday's first round.
The US Department of the Treasury added dozens of people and companies to the list.
The threats came in statements issued after a video conference that brought together Obama and world leaders.
Ukraine has accused Russia of sending soldiers and weapons to help separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The past four days have seen the rebels stage elections for leadership which the government called illegal.
Separatist leaders accused Petro Poroshenko of suspending a law giving their regions “special status”.
Kiev's pro-Western leaders fear that a new “frozen conflict” could now be created in its eastern regions.
Sergei Lavrov said the pending vote would be important from the point of view of legitimising power.
A ceasefire was struck on Friday between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Britain said Moscow faced “pariah” status and the threat of further economic sanctions.
Ukrainian warplanes struck at separatist positions in the east of the country.
The announcement came after a four-way phone call with Vladimir Putin and German and French leaders.
The suggestion is viewed as necessary to prevent militants and arms entering Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president has ordered a seven-day ceasefire in the fight against pro-Russian separatists.
A statement said Russia and Ukraine leaders discussed a possible ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
The rebel forces said five of their fighters had been killed in the battle for Mariupol.
The rebels show no sign of giving up their arms, but opening talks would be a big step on the road to peace.