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| Ukraine crisis to dominate G7 Brussels summit | Ukraine crisis to dominate G7 Brussels summit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Leaders of the G7 industrial nations are meeting in Brussels, with the Ukraine crisis set to dominate talks. | Leaders of the G7 industrial nations are meeting in Brussels, with the Ukraine crisis set to dominate talks. |
| It is their first meeting since Russia was removed from the club following its annexation of Crimea in March. | It is their first meeting since Russia was removed from the club following its annexation of Crimea in March. |
| In a joint statement, G7 leaders said they were prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia over its interference in Ukraine. | |
| Earlier in Poland, US President Barack Obama warned Moscow against what he called its "dark tactics" in Ukraine. | |
| Mr Obama is on a three-state European tour ending with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France on Friday. | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony. | Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony. |
| The two leaders have no meeting scheduled but Mr Putin said he was ready for dialogue. | The two leaders have no meeting scheduled but Mr Putin said he was ready for dialogue. |
| Polish anniversary | Polish anniversary |
| G7 leaders gathered in Brussels on Wednesday evening for the summit's opening dinner. | |
| "We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to consider meaningful additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require," the leaders said in a joint statement. | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters: "We can't afford a further destabilisation of Ukraine." | |
| "We have made clear that we want to continue with our three-step approach - support Ukraine in economic issues, talks with Russia, and should there no progress on all those issues... the possibility of sanctions, tougher sanctions, remains on the table," she said. | |
| Earlier, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he expected the G7 to send a clear message of support for Ukraine, as well as calling for Russia to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis. | |
| The summit was originally to have been held in the Russian city of Sochi. | The summit was originally to have been held in the Russian city of Sochi. |
| Speaking in Warsaw earlier to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, Mr Obama hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine. | Speaking in Warsaw earlier to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, Mr Obama hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine. |
| He also met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country. | He also met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country. |
| Mr Obama called Mr Poroshenko a "wise selection" to lead Ukraine, and said the nation could become a vibrant, thriving democracy if the world community stood behind it. | Mr Obama called Mr Poroshenko a "wise selection" to lead Ukraine, and said the nation could become a vibrant, thriving democracy if the world community stood behind it. |
| But he also condemned what he called Russian "aggression" in eastern Ukraine, | But he also condemned what he called Russian "aggression" in eastern Ukraine, |
| "How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th Century to define the 21st?" he said. | "How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th Century to define the 21st?" he said. |
| Mr Obama pledged $5m (£3m) of military assistance to Kiev including body armour and night-vision goggles. | Mr Obama pledged $5m (£3m) of military assistance to Kiev including body armour and night-vision goggles. |
| The aid follows $18m promised since early March for food, clothes, radios and other equipment. | The aid follows $18m promised since early March for food, clothes, radios and other equipment. |
| Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May. | Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May. |
| He will be at the D-Day commemorations ahead of his inauguration on Saturday. | He will be at the D-Day commemorations ahead of his inauguration on Saturday. |
| There are no plans for him to meet Mr Putin, but both men have said they are prepared to meet. | There are no plans for him to meet Mr Putin, but both men have said they are prepared to meet. |
| Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, separatist rebels have taken two military bases in the eastern region of Luhansk. | Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, separatist rebels have taken two military bases in the eastern region of Luhansk. |
| Separatists seized a border guard base after days of fierce combat, and a National Guard base after an attack which began on Tuesday. | Separatists seized a border guard base after days of fierce combat, and a National Guard base after an attack which began on Tuesday. |
| Fighting continues near the towns of Krasny Liman and Sloviansk in neighbouring Donetsk region. | Fighting continues near the towns of Krasny Liman and Sloviansk in neighbouring Donetsk region. |
| Ukrainian sources say rebels are trying to break out of encirclements by government forces. | Ukrainian sources say rebels are trying to break out of encirclements by government forces. |