Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the performance of right-wing parties in the European parliament election was both "remarkable and regrettable".

Watch: 'Disaster' for Hollande as National Front races ahead

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Vladimir Putin that Russia had not done enough to implement the Geneva accord - and warned of the possibility of further sanctions against the country.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, she said:

"I spoke to the Russian president this morning and made clear again that on the one hand Ukraine has taken a whole series of steps to implement the Geneva accord but on the other side I see no Russian backing for the accord which would of course have an effect on the separatists in Ukraine.

"Russia has the power, or could have the power, to bring the separatists on to a peaceful path of discussions about the constitution and preparations for elections, but such signals are unfortunately lacking."

"We will therefore have to react," she added. "This will be a joint European action and an action by the G7... because of the lack of progress we will have to contemplate further sanctions within the second stage of sanctions."

Germany has joined a host of voices criticising Turkey's ban on Twitter.

"It doesn't fit with our idea of freedom of expression to forbid or block any form of communication," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokeswoman said.

Turkey's courts blocked access to Twitter following Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's vow, on the campaign trail ahead of March 30 local elections, to "wipe out" the service.

He says he does not care what the international community says about it, though President Abdullah Gul has objected to his actions.

The current tension with Russia means that the G8 does not exist at the moment the German Chancellor said.

Angela Merkel said that her government had not yet decided if scheduled German-Russian consultations will take place in April.

She also confirmed that EU leaders will agree further sanctions against Russia at a summit beginning today.

Read more: EU leaders expected to extend Russian sanctions

European Union leaders are likely to extend asset freezes and travel bans on key members of the Russian regime, as they meet in Brussels to discuss tougher sanctions in response to the annexation of Crimea.

In a pre-summit phone call last night, the Prime Minister and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed they would argue for the EU "building on" the travel bans and asset freezes agreed on Monday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped up her criticism of Russia, saying the country has "exploited Ukraine's weakness instead of acting as a partner for stability."

Speaking in the German parliament, the Chancellor warned that if Russia continues its path, it would be "a catastrophe not just for Ukraine and the EU, but also for Russia."

She said that EU leaders are ready to "take further action" if Russia continues to destabilise the situation.

"The territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be called into question," she said.

Mrs Merkel said the situation in Ukraine's southern region of Crimea was not comparable to the case of Kosovo in the Balkans.

Read: Obama warns Russia ongoing Ukraine crisis has a cost

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the crisis in Ukraine needed to be solved via diplomacy.

In a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Xi said solution needed to be on the basis of international law, German government said in a statement.

Read: Pro-Ukraine and Russia rallies take place across Ukraine

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin referendum planned for March 16 on Crimea joining Russia violated Ukraine's constitution and was against international law.

The Chancellor also said she regretted that there had not been any progress on forming an "international contact group" which could find a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

David Cameron has spoken to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President Francois Hollande about the crisis in Ukraine, Number 10 has revealed.

Ahead of the meeting of EU leaders on Thursday, Downing Street said they all agreed "the international community should speak with one voice and send a clear message to Russia that its actions in Ukraine were completely unacceptable."

They also talked about the importance of "the costs and consequences for the Russian government of continuing to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty."

Read the latest on the crisis in Ukraine

German chancellor Angela Merkel met the Queen at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

"You've had a very busy day," the Queen said.

"Yes but it's my duty to have busy days," Mrs Merkel replied.