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Top diplomats seek Ukraine solution in Paris talks Top diplomats seek Ukraine solution in Paris talks
(about 1 hour 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. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is holding 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 was expected 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.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.Ukraine's finance ministry has predicted it needs $35bn to rescue the economy.
In other developments: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.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". Meanwhile, a recording of a phone conversation between EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has been leaked on the internet.
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." In the recording, Mr Paet told Baroness Ashton that there was an "increasing understanding" in Ukraine that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych's government was not responsible for the deaths of police and protesters during clashes last month in Kiev.
He also said it was up to the people of Ukraine and Crimea to decide if they wanted international monitors. He said some Ukrainians believed elements from within the new regime in Kiev had employed snipers.
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. He said Ukrainian doctor Olga Bogomolets had told him that victims from both sides were shot by snipers using the same weapons.
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. However, Dr Bogomolets told the UK's Telegraph newspaper that she had never had access to victims from the government side and was unable to comment on how they had been killed.
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. Mr Paet confirmed that the conversation with Baroness Ashton had taken place on 26 February.
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 called for an inquiry into the deaths in Kiev, but warned against using his comments to discredit the new government.
"I call for journalists to treat this recording very carefully. I was talking about the theories there were about what happened in Ukraine," he said.
Mr Yanukovych fled Ukraine shortly after the bloodshed and is now in Russia.
Moscow has since flooded the Crimea region with military personnel, claiming that Mr Yanukovych had asked for their help.
However, Mr Lavrov earlier 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.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) says it has sent 35 unarmed military monitors to Ukraine in response to a request from Kiev. It was not clear if they would be deployed to Crimea.
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 Mr Yanukovych and the opposition on constitutional reform.
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.
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.
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.