German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday the question of nuclear security was increasingly important, and that the Ukraine crisis set a "bad example" to countries reluctant to give up nuclear weapons capabilities.

(SOUNDBITE) (German) ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR SAYING:

"The fact that Russia, as a state, took special responsibility for the security of Ukraine's territorial integrity is now violating this territorial integrity in such a manner is definitely a bad example on an international level and I hope it won't set an example. But the danger exists."

Merkel was speaking on the sidelines of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit. The talks are aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism.

(SOUNDBITE) (German) ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR SAYING:

"The spread of nuclear material sources, for example in the medical field, will increase world wide and the possibility of IT cyber attacks will spread, so the question of nuclear security is more than just t