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Ukraine summit: Berlin talks played down Ukraine crisis: Berlin talks played down
(about 4 hours later)
All sides have played down expectations as the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany prepare for talks about the stalled Ukraine peace deal. All sides have played down expectations as the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are holding talks about the stalled Ukraine peace deal.
A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not expect any breakthroughs at the meeting in Berlin.A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not expect any breakthroughs at the meeting in Berlin.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out "miracles" but said every effort must be made to achieve progress at the first four-way meeting in over a year.German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out "miracles" but said every effort must be made to achieve progress at the first four-way meeting in over a year.
Mr Putin will also face pressure over the conflict in Syria.Mr Putin will also face pressure over the conflict in Syria.
Mrs Merkel said talks would aim at alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people and stressed that no option, including sanctions for Russia, were off the table.Mrs Merkel said talks would aim at alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people and stressed that no option, including sanctions for Russia, were off the table.
The Ukraine discussions take place against a backdrop of tensions elevated by Russia's military backing for the Syrian regime - and a bombing campaign in Aleppo which the European Union has warned could amount to war crimes.The Ukraine discussions take place against a backdrop of tensions elevated by Russia's military backing for the Syrian regime - and a bombing campaign in Aleppo which the European Union has warned could amount to war crimes.
Russia and the West: Where did it all go wrong?Russia and the West: Where did it all go wrong?
Syria war: How Moscow’s bombing campaign has paid off for PutinSyria war: How Moscow’s bombing campaign has paid off for Putin
A blizzard of telephone diplomacy over the past week - when Mr Putin postponed a visit to France over a row about Syria - is said to have resulted in Wednesday night's meeting, which is expected to attract several protest groups outside. A blizzard of telephone diplomacy over the past week - when Mr Putin postponed a visit to France over a row about Syria - is said to have resulted in Wednesday night's meeting, which has attracted several protest groups outside.
The 2015 Minsk agreement eased fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels, but violence frequently flares along a demarcation line. The 2015 Minsk agreement eased fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country, but violence frequently flares along a demarcation line.
Ukraine, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia has supplied the rebels with heavy weapons and regular troops. Russia denies that, but it is hostile to the Kiev government and openly supports the rebel cause.Ukraine, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia has supplied the rebels with heavy weapons and regular troops. Russia denies that, but it is hostile to the Kiev government and openly supports the rebel cause.
In 2014, Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula - a move condemned by Kiev and the West.
The last four-way meeting in the so-called Normandy Format took place in Paris in October 2015.The last four-way meeting in the so-called Normandy Format took place in Paris in October 2015.
Mrs Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters to limit their expectations to a "brutally honest assessment of the situation" in Ukraine, while Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov agreed that "obstacles" to implementing the Minsk accord should be identified.Mrs Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters to limit their expectations to a "brutally honest assessment of the situation" in Ukraine, while Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov agreed that "obstacles" to implementing the Minsk accord should be identified.
Meanwhile President Petro Poroshenko said he was not optimistic about the negotiations over the conflict, which has claimed nearly 10,000 lives since it erupted in 2014. Meanwhile, President Petro Poroshenko said he was not optimistic about the negotiations over the conflict, which has claimed nearly 10,000 lives since it erupted in 2014.
He will leave the table when what Mr Seibert termed the "catastrophic situation" in Syria is raised.He will leave the table when what Mr Seibert termed the "catastrophic situation" in Syria is raised.