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Merkel, Seeking an End to Conflict in Ukraine, Plans Trip to Kiev Merkel, Seeking an End to Conflict in Ukraine, Plans Trip to Kiev
(about 1 hour later)
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has accepted an invitation from the Ukrainian president to travel to Kiev this weekend, her office announced on Tuesday. The visit will be the first time Ms. Merkel has visited Ukraine since a popular uprising late last year overturned the government and sparked a revolt by pro-Russian separatists. BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has accepted an invitation from the Ukrainian president to travel to Kiev this weekend, her office announced on Tuesday. The visit will be the first time Ms. Merkel has visited Ukraine since a popular uprising late last year overturned the government and set off a revolt by pro-Russian separatists.
Germany has attempted to lead diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine by seeking cooperation from Russia, with which it has strong economic and political ties. But Germany joined other European nations and the United States in imposing economic sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir V. Putin repeatedly refused to respond to urging from Berlin, and from Ms. Merkel personally, to help ease the tensions. Germany has tried to lead diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine by seeking cooperation from Russia, with which it has strong economic and political ties. But Germany joined other European nations and the United States in imposing economic sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir V. Putin repeatedly refused to respond to urging from Berlin, and from Ms. Merkel personally, to help ease the tensions.
Ms. Merkel has frequently called Mr. Putin and Petro O. Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president, as part of diplomatic efforts that have so far borne little fruit. Ms. Merkel will meet Mr. Poroshenko during her daylong trip to Kiev on Saturday, and will hold talks with Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk and local politicians from across the country, her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in a statement. Ms. Merkel has frequently called Mr. Putin and Petro O. Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president, as part of diplomatic efforts that have so far borne little fruit. She will meet Mr. Poroshenko during her daylong trip to Kiev on Saturday, and will hold talks with Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk and local politicians from across the country, her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in a statement.
The chancellor visited Riga, Latvia, on Monday, where she sought to reassure the Baltic states, which also include Estonia and Lithuania, that their partners in NATO would defend them against any Russian aggression. The three countries, all former Soviet republics, have Russian-speaking minorities that they fear could be vulnerable to destabilization from Moscow, as seems to have happened in eastern Ukraine. On Monday, the chancellor visited Riga, Latvia, where she sought to reassure the Baltic states, which also include Estonia and Lithuania, that their partners in NATO would defend them against any Russian aggression. The three countries, all former Soviet republics, have Russian-speaking minorities that they fear could be vulnerable to destabilization from Moscow, as seems to have happened in eastern Ukraine.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, was waiting Tuesday to hear from his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts whether they would be willing to continue negotiations toward a diplomatic solution and a lasting cease-fire. The three ministers, along with the French foreign minister, met for five hours over dinner in Berlin on Sunday without reaching a concrete agreement.Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, was waiting Tuesday to hear from his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts whether they would be willing to continue negotiations toward a diplomatic solution and a lasting cease-fire. The three ministers, along with the French foreign minister, met for five hours over dinner in Berlin on Sunday without reaching a concrete agreement.
Fighting in Ukrainian villages near the Russian border has left at least 2,086 dead and more than 5,000 others wounded, according to the United Nations office for human rights. Dozens of refugees were killed on Monday by rebels, who attacked their caravan as they tried to flee villages in the country’s eastern regions, the Ukrainian government said. Fighting in Ukrainian villages near the Russian border has left at least 2,086 dead and more than 5,000 wounded, according to the United Nations’ human rights office. Dozens of refugees were killed on Monday by rebels, who attacked their caravan as they tried to flee villages in the country’s eastern regions, the Ukrainian government said.
Civilians have increasingly become trapped in the midst of fighting between the pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian military. There was no independent confirmation of the Ukrainian government’s report of the attack on the caravan on Monday. The rebels have accused Ukraine of exaggerating the number of civilian casualties.Civilians have increasingly become trapped in the midst of fighting between the pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian military. There was no independent confirmation of the Ukrainian government’s report of the attack on the caravan on Monday. The rebels have accused Ukraine of exaggerating the number of civilian casualties.
News services reported on Tuesday that there was fighting in central Luhansk, one of the largest separatist-controlled cities in eastern Ukraine.News services reported on Tuesday that there was fighting in central Luhansk, one of the largest separatist-controlled cities in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin has accused Kiev of stepping up its operations in eastern Ukraine to sabotage what Moscow describes as a humanitarian mission involving a convoy of about 270 trucks that has been stalled for days on the Russian side of the border and has become the center of diplomatic haggling.The Kremlin has accused Kiev of stepping up its operations in eastern Ukraine to sabotage what Moscow describes as a humanitarian mission involving a convoy of about 270 trucks that has been stalled for days on the Russian side of the border and has become the center of diplomatic haggling.
The worsening of the humanitarian situation has begun to raise concerns in European countries, which have so far largely focused on seeking ways to resolve the crisis rather than addressing the deteriorating conditions on the ground. In a letter to the foreign ministers of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, the council’s secretary general, appealed on Tuesday for member states to support international aid to organizations working in eastern Ukraine. The worsening of the humanitarian situation has begun to raise concerns in European countries, which have so far largely sought ways to resolve the crisis rather than addressing the deteriorating conditions on the ground. In a letter to the foreign ministers of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, the council’s secretary general, appealed on Tuesday for member states to support international aid to organizations working in eastern Ukraine.
“The situation can only be described as dramatic, and it may deteriorate even further,” Mr. Jagland wrote.“The situation can only be described as dramatic, and it may deteriorate even further,” Mr. Jagland wrote.