PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande on Thursday said he was contemplating tougher sanctions against Moscow if diplomatic attempts did not bear fruit.
"We can raise the level of sanctions if there is no solution that will emerge from the Geneva talks," Hollande said after receiving Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
The United States and European Union have so far imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a small number of Russian and Ukrainian individuals. They also threatened Russia of more serious measures that could hurt its economy.
Earlier on Thursday, top diplomats from Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the EU met in Geneva in the hope of reaching a peaceful end to the Kiev crisis.
As intensive talks are underway to reach a progress in ending the conflict, three separatists were killed and 13 others were wounded overnight.
Ukraine plunged into chaotic violence in November 2013 after the government backtracking on European integration angered many in the west of Ukraine.
The country was hit by a fresh wave of unrest after Crimea held a referendum to leave Ukraine and join Russia last month, triggering protests in other eastern Ukrainian cities to hold referendums and give more power to local authorities.
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