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| Top diplomats seek Ukraine solution in Paris talks | Top diplomats seek Ukraine solution in Paris talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has begun talks with counterparts from the US and key EU states to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. | |
| The US wants independent observers in the flashpoint region of Crimea and direct talks between Kiev and Moscow. | The US wants independent observers in the flashpoint region of Crimea and direct talks between Kiev and Moscow. |
| Russia is likely to call for greater representation for Ukraine's Russian-speaking areas in the Kiev government. | Russia is likely to call for greater representation for Ukraine's Russian-speaking areas in the Kiev government. |
| The EU earlier offered 11bn euros ($15bn; £9bn) of aid to Ukraine and froze the assets of 18 Ukrainians. | |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the package of loans and grants over the next couple of years was "designed to assist a committed, inclusive and reforms-oriented government" in Kiev. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the package of loans and grants over the next couple of years was "designed to assist a committed, inclusive and reforms-oriented government" in Kiev. |
| Ukraine's finance ministry has predicted it needs $35bn to rescue the economy. | |
| In other developments: | |
| 'Bad example' | 'Bad example' |
| Mr Lavrov met US Secretary of State John Kerry and counterparts from the UK, Germany and France on the sidelines of a long-planned conference on Lebanon in Paris. | |
| Nato and Russia are also due to hold parallel talks in Brussels. | Nato and Russia are also due to hold parallel talks in Brussels. |
| The Paris gathering is being seen above all as a chance to test the waters for a dialogue about Ukraine, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall. | The Paris gathering is being seen above all as a chance to test the waters for a dialogue about Ukraine, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall. |
| But UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Russians had already failed to appear at one meeting with the Ukrainians in Paris so he was "not optimistic" of making progress later. | But UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Russians had already failed to appear at one meeting with the Ukrainians in Paris so he was "not optimistic" of making progress later. |
| "If we cannot make progress on that course there will be costs and consequences," he said, in reference to a threat of sanctions by the US and EU. | "If we cannot make progress on that course there will be costs and consequences," he said, in reference to a threat of sanctions by the US and EU. |
| Earlier, Mr Lavrov underlined Moscow's differences with Western nations, accusing them of setting a bad example by supporting protesters - some of whom now make up the government - in their "armed coup d'etat". | Earlier, Mr Lavrov underlined Moscow's differences with Western nations, accusing them of setting a bad example by supporting protesters - some of whom now make up the government - in their "armed coup d'etat". |
| But he did stress that Russia would "not allow bloodshed", adding: "We will not allow attempts against the lives and wellbeing of those who live in Ukraine and Russian citizens who live in Ukraine." | But he did stress that Russia would "not allow bloodshed", adding: "We will not allow attempts against the lives and wellbeing of those who live in Ukraine and Russian citizens who live in Ukraine." |
| He also said it was up to the people of Ukraine and Crimea to decide if they wanted international monitors. | He also said it was up to the people of Ukraine and Crimea to decide if they wanted international monitors. |
| The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) later confirmed that it had sent 35 unarmed military monitors - from 18 European countries - to Ukraine in response to a request from Kiev. It was not clear if they would be deployed to Crimea. | The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) later confirmed that it had sent 35 unarmed military monitors - from 18 European countries - to Ukraine in response to a request from Kiev. It was not clear if they would be deployed to Crimea. |
| Mr Lavrov also insisted Moscow had no power to remove what it calls "self-defence forces" currently guarding key sites in Crimea, explaining that they were not Russian troops. | Mr Lavrov also insisted Moscow had no power to remove what it calls "self-defence forces" currently guarding key sites in Crimea, explaining that they were not Russian troops. |
| Personnel from the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet - which is based at the Crimean port city of Sevastopol - were in their normal positions, he added, while admitting Moscow had taken "additional special steps to raise awareness and tighten security" at its base. | Personnel from the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet - which is based at the Crimean port city of Sevastopol - were in their normal positions, he added, while admitting Moscow had taken "additional special steps to raise awareness and tighten security" at its base. |
| While visiting Kiev on Tuesday, Mr Kerry condemned what he called Russia's "act of aggression" and praised the "restraint" of Ukraine's interim government. | While visiting Kiev on Tuesday, Mr Kerry condemned what he called Russia's "act of aggression" and praised the "restraint" of Ukraine's interim government. |
| He has said he wants to see the crisis managed through international institutions such as the OSCE. | He has said he wants to see the crisis managed through international institutions such as the OSCE. |
| Moscow has been calling for a return to an agreement reached on 21 February with the then President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition. | Moscow has been calling for a return to an agreement reached on 21 February with the then President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition. |
| This agreement included constitutional reform that would fully take into account the interests of all regions of Ukraine - giving the Russian-speaking areas in the east more influence and greater legal protection. | This agreement included constitutional reform that would fully take into account the interests of all regions of Ukraine - giving the Russian-speaking areas in the east more influence and greater legal protection. |
| This, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow, would give Russia more leverage over the future direction of Ukraine. | This, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow, would give Russia more leverage over the future direction of Ukraine. |
| Moscow has strongly condemned the recent change of government in Ukraine, which came after months of street protests, more than 90 deaths and the flight of President Yanukovych, a Russian ally. | Moscow has strongly condemned the recent change of government in Ukraine, which came after months of street protests, more than 90 deaths and the flight of President Yanukovych, a Russian ally. |
| Since his fall, Moscow has retained de facto control of Ukraine's southern autonomous region of Crimea. | Since his fall, Moscow has retained de facto control of Ukraine's southern autonomous region of Crimea. |
| Pro-Russian troops in unmarked uniforms began taking control of strategic points on Saturday. | Pro-Russian troops in unmarked uniforms began taking control of strategic points on Saturday. |
| Troops are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in Sevastopol's harbour. | Troops are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in Sevastopol's harbour. |