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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 is holding 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 was expected 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 have been holding 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.
In the US, Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel announced plans to expand US military co-operation with Poland and Baltic states.
He said the US would step up joint aviation training with Poland, and increase its participation in Nato's mission to police the air space of Baltic countries.
The announcement was a direct response to concerns raised last week by Poland, he said.
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.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.
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.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 said some Ukrainians believed elements from within the new regime in Kiev had employed snipers.He said some Ukrainians believed elements from within the new regime in Kiev had employed snipers.
He said Ukrainian doctor Olga Bogomolets had told him that victims from both sides were shot by snipers using the same weapons.He said Ukrainian doctor Olga Bogomolets had told him that victims from both sides were shot by snipers using the same weapons.
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.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.
Mr Paet confirmed that the conversation with Baroness Ashton had taken place on 26 February.Mr Paet confirmed that the conversation with Baroness Ashton had taken place on 26 February.
He called for an inquiry into the deaths in Kiev, but warned against using his comments to discredit the new government. In a news conference on Wednesday, 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."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.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.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.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. 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.
He has said he wants to see the crisis managed through international institutions such as the OSCE. It was not clear if they would be deployed to Crimea.
Moscow has been calling for a return to an agreement reached on 21 February with Mr Yanukovych and the opposition on constitutional reform.Moscow has been calling for a return to an agreement reached on 21 February with Mr Yanukovych and the opposition on constitutional reform.