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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/11/ukraine-crisis-russia-preparing-counter-offer-to-us-demands
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Russia drafting counter-offer to US demands | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Russia has said it is drafting counterproposals | Russia has said it is drafting counterproposals |
| to a US plan for a negotiated solution to the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin | to a US plan for a negotiated solution to the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin |
| denounced the new western-backed government as an unacceptable “fait | denounced the new western-backed government as an unacceptable “fait |
| accompli” and claimed Russian-leaning parts of the country had | accompli” and claimed Russian-leaning parts of the country had |
| been plunged into lawlessness. | been plunged into lawlessness. |
| The Kremlin moves came as Russian forces strengthened their control over | The Kremlin moves came as Russian forces strengthened their control over |
| Crimea, less than a week before the strategic region is to hold a | Crimea, less than a week before the strategic region is to hold a |
| contentious referendum on whether to split off and become part of | contentious referendum on whether to split off and become part of |
| Russia. | Russia. |
| In a televised briefing with President Vladimir Putin, the Russian foreign | In a televised briefing with President Vladimir Putin, the Russian foreign |
| minister, Sergey Lavrov, said proposals made by John Kerry, the US secretary of state, were “not suitable” because they took the situation created | minister, Sergey Lavrov, said proposals made by John Kerry, the US secretary of state, were “not suitable” because they took the situation created |
| by the coup as a starting point, referring to the ouster of Ukraine’s | by the coup as a starting point, referring to the ouster of Ukraine’s |
| pro-Kremlin president, Viktor Yanukovych. | pro-Kremlin president, Viktor Yanukovych. |
| Referring to a document he received from Kerry explaining the US view | Referring to a document he received from Kerry explaining the US view |
| of the situation in Ukraine, Lavrov said: “To be frank it raises many | of the situation in Ukraine, Lavrov said: “To be frank it raises many |
| questions on our side … Everything was stated in terms of allegedly having a conflict between | questions on our side … Everything was stated in terms of allegedly having a conflict between |
| Russia and Ukraine, and in terms of accepting the fait accompli.” | Russia and Ukraine, and in terms of accepting the fait accompli.” |
| Lavrov said Kerry had delayed a visit to Moscow to discuss the situation | Lavrov said Kerry had delayed a visit to Moscow to discuss the situation |
| and Russia had decided to prepare new proposals of its own, though he | and Russia had decided to prepare new proposals of its own, though he |
| did not say what they were. “We suggested that he come today … and we were prepared to receive | did not say what they were. “We suggested that he come today … and we were prepared to receive |
| him. He gave his preliminary consent. He then called me on Saturday and | him. He gave his preliminary consent. He then called me on Saturday and |
| said he would like to postpone it for a while,” the minister said. | said he would like to postpone it for a while,” the minister said. |
| But in Washington state department officials said it was Russia’s | But in Washington state department officials said it was Russia’s |
| refusal to discuss the American proposals that was hurting prospects for | refusal to discuss the American proposals that was hurting prospects for |
| a negotiated solution, in particular the idea of direct talks between | a negotiated solution, in particular the idea of direct talks between |
| Russian officials and those of the new Ukrainian government. | Russian officials and those of the new Ukrainian government. |
| “We are still awaiting a Russian response to the concrete questions that | “We are still awaiting a Russian response to the concrete questions that |
| Secretary Kerry sent Foreign Minister Lavrov on Saturday in this | Secretary Kerry sent Foreign Minister Lavrov on Saturday in this |
| regard,” Jen Psaki, a state department spokeswoman, said in a statement. | regard,” Jen Psaki, a state department spokeswoman, said in a statement. |
| “Secretary Kerry made clear to Foreign Minister Lavrov that he would | “Secretary Kerry made clear to Foreign Minister Lavrov that he would |
| welcome further discussions focused on how to de-escalate the crisis in | welcome further discussions focused on how to de-escalate the crisis in |
| Ukraine if and when we see concrete evidence that Russia is prepared to | Ukraine if and when we see concrete evidence that Russia is prepared to |
| engage on these proposals.” | engage on these proposals.” |
| The US statement said Kerry, in weekend discussions with Lavrov, reiterated | The US statement said Kerry, in weekend discussions with Lavrov, reiterated |
| Washington’s demand that Moscow pull back its troops from Ukraine and | Washington’s demand that Moscow pull back its troops from Ukraine and |
| end attempts to annex the Crimean peninsula. Kerry also called on Russia | end attempts to annex the Crimean peninsula. Kerry also called on Russia |
| to cease what the statement described as “provocative steps” so that | to cease what the statement described as “provocative steps” so that |
| diplomatic talks could continue. | diplomatic talks could continue. |
| US officials described a series of diplomatic manoeuvres between | US officials described a series of diplomatic manoeuvres between |
| Washington and Moscow over the weekend that initially led to an | Washington and Moscow over the weekend that initially led to an |
| invitation for Kerry to meet with Putin on Monday. The offer expired, | invitation for Kerry to meet with Putin on Monday. The offer expired, |
| however, after the two sides could not quickly agree to a | however, after the two sides could not quickly agree to a |
| page-and-a-half outline for potential negotiations that, above all, | page-and-a-half outline for potential negotiations that, above all, |
| demanded Ukraine’s borders remain intact, according to the officials who | demanded Ukraine’s borders remain intact, according to the officials who |
| were not authorised to be quoted by name. | were not authorised to be quoted by name. |
| The US outline did call for ways to address any Russian concerns about | The US outline did call for ways to address any Russian concerns about |
| the government turnover in Kiev that Moscow is calling a coup, and it | the government turnover in Kiev that Moscow is calling a coup, and it |
| introduced the potential for investigations into acts of violence by any | introduced the potential for investigations into acts of violence by any |
| party to the conflict, the officials said. Left unsaid, however, was | party to the conflict, the officials said. Left unsaid, however, was |
| precisely how those concerns might be assuaged or what government would | precisely how those concerns might be assuaged or what government would |
| be tasked with leading such an investigation. | be tasked with leading such an investigation. |
| The US outline also called on Russia to pull back from Crimea, both in | The US outline also called on Russia to pull back from Crimea, both in |
| military force and in influence, to halt the local government there | military force and in influence, to halt the local government there |
| from holding a 16 March vote on whether it should separate from Ukraine, | from holding a 16 March vote on whether it should separate from Ukraine, |
| the officials said. It further sought to gain Russian support for | the officials said. It further sought to gain Russian support for |
| placing international monitors in Crimea, allowing the International | placing international monitors in Crimea, allowing the International |
| Monetary Fund to work with Ukraine and backing a 25 May national | Monetary Fund to work with Ukraine and backing a 25 May national |
| election called by Kiev. | election called by Kiev. |
| Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Monday that his country was | Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Monday that his country was |
| practically in a state of war with Russia, whose forces have effectively | practically in a state of war with Russia, whose forces have effectively |
| taken control over the Crimean Peninsula in what has become Europe’s | taken control over the Crimean Peninsula in what has become Europe’s |
| greatest geopolitical crisis since the end of the cold war. “We have to admit that our life now is almost like … a war,” the Ukrainian foreign | greatest geopolitical crisis since the end of the cold war. “We have to admit that our life now is almost like … a war,” the Ukrainian foreign |
| minister, Andrii Deshchytsya, said before meeting his counterparts from | minister, Andrii Deshchytsya, said before meeting his counterparts from |
| Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. “We have to cope with an | Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. “We have to cope with an |
| aggression that we do not understand.” | aggression that we do not understand.” |
| Ukraine’s prime | Ukraine’s prime |
| minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, is to meet with President Barack Obama in | minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, is to meet with President Barack Obama in |
| Washington on Wednesday. | Washington on Wednesday. |
| On Monday the Russian foreign ministry denounced the lawlessness it | On Monday the Russian foreign ministry denounced the lawlessness it |
| said “now rules in eastern regions of Ukraine as a result of the actions | said “now rules in eastern regions of Ukraine as a result of the actions |
| of fighters of the so-called Right Sector, with the full connivance” | of fighters of the so-called Right Sector, with the full connivance” |
| of Ukraine’s new authorities. Right Sector is a grouping of far-right and nationalist factions whose | of Ukraine’s new authorities. Right Sector is a grouping of far-right and nationalist factions whose |
| activists were among the most radical and confrontational during the | activists were among the most radical and confrontational during the |
| three months of demonstrations in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, that | three months of demonstrations in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, that |
| eventually led to Yanukovych fleeing the country. | eventually led to Yanukovych fleeing the country. |
| Pro-Russia sentiment is high in Ukraine’s east and there are fears Russia could seek to incorporate that area as well. | Pro-Russia sentiment is high in Ukraine’s east and there are fears Russia could seek to incorporate that area as well. |