Russia threatened over Ukraine poll

France and Germany have threatened Russia with further sanctions if Ukraine's presidential election on 25 May fails to go ahead. President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement they feared further destabilisation of Ukraine. The two leaders also said local referendums in eastern Ukraine planned for Sunday would be illegal. They called for a visible reduction in Russian forces on the Ukrainian border. Russia is estimated by Nato to have some 40,000 troops near the border, though Moscow says they have been pulled back. The statement was issued after the two leaders met in Chancellor Merkel's constituency in Germany, according to BBC.