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Ukraine: low expectations that Geneva talks will calm the crisis Ukraine: low expectations that Geneva talks will calm the crisis
(4 months later)
Ukraine is hoping to placate Russia and calm hostilities with its neighbour even as the US prepares a new round of sanctions to punish Moscow for what it regards as fomenting unrest.Ukraine is hoping to placate Russia and calm hostilities with its neighbour even as the US prepares a new round of sanctions to punish Moscow for what it regards as fomenting unrest.
The strategy emerged as diplomats from Ukraine, the US, the European Union and Russia prepared to meet in Geneva on Thursday for the first time over the burgeoning crisis. The strategy emerged as diplomats from Ukraine, the US, the European Union and Russia prepared to meet in Geneva on Thursday for the first time over the burgeoning crisis.
Russia hopes to push the west as far as possible without provoking crippling sanctions against its financial and energy sectors or a military confrontation with Nato.Russia hopes to push the west as far as possible without provoking crippling sanctions against its financial and energy sectors or a military confrontation with Nato.
"I think we still have a chance to de-escalate the situation using diplomatic means," Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Deshchytsia, told reporters late on Wednesday. "And we are trying hard.""I think we still have a chance to de-escalate the situation using diplomatic means," Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Deshchytsia, told reporters late on Wednesday. "And we are trying hard."
But Deshchytsia said the diplomatic discussions must also be tempered with efforts "to look for a more concrete and adequate response to Russia's plans and actions".But Deshchytsia said the diplomatic discussions must also be tempered with efforts "to look for a more concrete and adequate response to Russia's plans and actions".
Ukraine's interior minister said on Thursday that three pro-Russian separatists were killed in shooting that broke out overnight in the town of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, Reuters reported.Ukraine's interior minister said on Thursday that three pro-Russian separatists were killed in shooting that broke out overnight in the town of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, Reuters reported.
"According to preliminary data, three attackers were killed, 13 wounded and 63 detained," Arsen Avakov said in a post on Facebook."According to preliminary data, three attackers were killed, 13 wounded and 63 detained," Arsen Avakov said in a post on Facebook.
Obama administration officials played down any expectations that the meetings in Geneva would yield a breakthrough or Russian concessions meaningful enough to avoid new US penalties.Obama administration officials played down any expectations that the meetings in Geneva would yield a breakthrough or Russian concessions meaningful enough to avoid new US penalties.
With Ukraine struggling to contain a pro-Russian uprising in its eastern region bordering Russia, the Obama administration is preparing additional sanctions against Moscow and a boost in aid for the Ukrainian military in the coming days, US officials said Wednesday.With Ukraine struggling to contain a pro-Russian uprising in its eastern region bordering Russia, the Obama administration is preparing additional sanctions against Moscow and a boost in aid for the Ukrainian military in the coming days, US officials said Wednesday.
The sanctions are likely to target more wealthy individuals close to Russian president Vladimir Putin and the entities they run, while military aid could include medical supplies and clothing.The sanctions are likely to target more wealthy individuals close to Russian president Vladimir Putin and the entities they run, while military aid could include medical supplies and clothing.
"Each time Russia takes these kinds of steps that are designed to destabilise Ukraine and violate their sovereignty, there are going to be consequences," president Barack Obama told CBS News on Wednesday night."Each time Russia takes these kinds of steps that are designed to destabilise Ukraine and violate their sovereignty, there are going to be consequences," president Barack Obama told CBS News on Wednesday night.
"Mr Putin's decisions aren't just bad for Ukraine. Over the long term, they're going to be bad for Russia.""Mr Putin's decisions aren't just bad for Ukraine. Over the long term, they're going to be bad for Russia."
US military aid was expected to stop short of body armour and other equipment for Ukraine's troops. The Obama administration is reluctant to send weapons and ammunition, as Kiev has requested, amid fears that lethal supplies would be seen as an escalatory step and trigger a more aggressive response from the estimated 40,000 Russian forces massed on its border with Ukraine.US military aid was expected to stop short of body armour and other equipment for Ukraine's troops. The Obama administration is reluctant to send weapons and ammunition, as Kiev has requested, amid fears that lethal supplies would be seen as an escalatory step and trigger a more aggressive response from the estimated 40,000 Russian forces massed on its border with Ukraine.
Despite the diplomatic freeze between Moscow and Kiev, a senior State Department official said Ukraine's negotiators planned to try to assuage Russia's concerns during Thursday's talks. Deshchytsia and his team were expected to brief Russia and the other diplomats on what Kiev was doing to transfer more power from the central government to the regions, including letting local areas keep more of their funding and elect their own leaders.Despite the diplomatic freeze between Moscow and Kiev, a senior State Department official said Ukraine's negotiators planned to try to assuage Russia's concerns during Thursday's talks. Deshchytsia and his team were expected to brief Russia and the other diplomats on what Kiev was doing to transfer more power from the central government to the regions, including letting local areas keep more of their funding and elect their own leaders.
The Ukraine diplomats were prepared to field questions from negotiators and even seek Russia's advice on how to quell concerns in Moscow about the rights of Russian-speaking minorities in Ukraine and the approaching 25 May presidential elections to ensure they are inclusive for all candidates. The Ukraine diplomats were prepared to field questions from negotiators and even seek Russia's advice on how to quell concerns in Moscow about the rights of Russian-speaking minorities in Ukraine and the approaching 25 May presidential elections to ensure they are inclusive for all candidates.
So far, the military movements and two initial rounds of sanctions against Russians and Ukrainians accused by the west of stirring up the unrest have done little to ease tensions.So far, the military movements and two initial rounds of sanctions against Russians and Ukrainians accused by the west of stirring up the unrest have done little to ease tensions.
Officials said a full-scale Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine would result in broad US and European sanctions on key Russian economic sectors, including its powerful energy industry. But European nations are divided on whether to limit its access to Russia's oil and gas supplies, and a vote to sanction must be unanimous among the EU's 28 member states.Officials said a full-scale Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine would result in broad US and European sanctions on key Russian economic sectors, including its powerful energy industry. But European nations are divided on whether to limit its access to Russia's oil and gas supplies, and a vote to sanction must be unanimous among the EU's 28 member states.
The sanctions that could be levied in the aftermath of the Geneva meeting were expected to focus on Putin's close associates, including oligarchs who control much of Russia's wealth, as well as businesses and other entities they control. It was unclear whether those sanctions would change Putin's calculus, given that the US and the Europeans already have launched targeted sanctions on people in Putin's inner circle.The sanctions that could be levied in the aftermath of the Geneva meeting were expected to focus on Putin's close associates, including oligarchs who control much of Russia's wealth, as well as businesses and other entities they control. It was unclear whether those sanctions would change Putin's calculus, given that the US and the Europeans already have launched targeted sanctions on people in Putin's inner circle.