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| Ukraine crisis: Leaders in new diplomatic push for peace | Ukraine crisis: Leaders in new diplomatic push for peace |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Diplomatic efforts are under way to end renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine. | Diplomatic efforts are under way to end renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine. |
| French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held urgent talks in the capital Kiev, presenting a new peace initiative. | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is also in Kiev, said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but would not close its eyes to Russian aggression. | US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is also in Kiev, said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but would not close its eyes to Russian aggression. |
| Fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels has killed nearly 5,400 people since April, the UN says. | |
| Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border. | Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border. |
| Russia denies direct involvement but says some Russian volunteers are fighting alongside the rebels. | Russia denies direct involvement but says some Russian volunteers are fighting alongside the rebels. |
| 'Acting with impunity' | |
| President Poroshenko said in a statement the talks with Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande "give hopes... for a ceasefire". He earlier also thanked the German and French leaders for their visit at "a very urgent time". | |
| The German and French leaders made no public comments after Thursday's meeting, in what appeared to be a speedily arranged visit. | |
| Ahead of the talks, Mr Hollande said he and Mrs Merkel would present a new peace proposal based on the "territorial integrity" of Ukraine, which could be "acceptable to all". | |
| However, he warned that diplomacy "cannot go on indefinitely". | |
| Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel will now meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday. | |
| Speaking earlier at a joint news conference with Mr Kerry, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said: "We need to get peace. But we will never consider anything that undermines territorial integrity... of Ukraine". | |
| Mr Kerry accused Russia of violating Ukraine's sovereignty, saying that Russia had been acting with "impunity", crossing the Ukrainian border "at will with weapons [and] personnel". | Mr Kerry accused Russia of violating Ukraine's sovereignty, saying that Russia had been acting with "impunity", crossing the Ukrainian border "at will with weapons [and] personnel". |
| "We are choosing a peaceful solution through diplomacy - but you cannot have a one-sided peace," Mr Kerry said. | "We are choosing a peaceful solution through diplomacy - but you cannot have a one-sided peace," Mr Kerry said. |
| He added that Mr Obama was still "reviewing all options", including the possibility of providing "defensive weapons" to Ukraine, due to the dangerous escalation in violence. | He added that Mr Obama was still "reviewing all options", including the possibility of providing "defensive weapons" to Ukraine, due to the dangerous escalation in violence. |
| The US is currently only providing "non-lethal" assistance, like night-vision goggles and body armour. | |
| Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said any decision by the US to supply weapons to Ukraine would "inflict colossal damage to Russian-American relations". | Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said any decision by the US to supply weapons to Ukraine would "inflict colossal damage to Russian-American relations". |
| Several senior Western officials have also expressed concern at the prospect of US arms being sent to Ukraine. | Several senior Western officials have also expressed concern at the prospect of US arms being sent to Ukraine. |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier likened the option to "throwing more weapons on the bonfire", while Nato commander Philip Breedlove said governments must take into account that the move "could trigger a more strident reaction from Russia". | German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier likened the option to "throwing more weapons on the bonfire", while Nato commander Philip Breedlove said governments must take into account that the move "could trigger a more strident reaction from Russia". |
| Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent | Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent |
| Should the West arm Ukraine? Might such a move - by giving Ukraine more effective defences - reduce the risk of a major escalation? | Should the West arm Ukraine? Might such a move - by giving Ukraine more effective defences - reduce the risk of a major escalation? |
| Or might it simply add fuel to the fire, encouraging Moscow to mount a major offensive westwards to punch through to the territory it already holds in the Crimea? | Or might it simply add fuel to the fire, encouraging Moscow to mount a major offensive westwards to punch through to the territory it already holds in the Crimea? |
| Nato countries are increasingly divided on this crucial question. | Nato countries are increasingly divided on this crucial question. |
| The consensus view up to now has been not to supply weapons, but to give non-lethal support like radars, medical gear, body-armour and so on. Only Poland has explicitly stated that it might arm Ukraine if asked. | The consensus view up to now has been not to supply weapons, but to give non-lethal support like radars, medical gear, body-armour and so on. Only Poland has explicitly stated that it might arm Ukraine if asked. |
| Now the balance of the debate is shifting in the US too, but still there is no clear will to provide weapons to the Kiev government. There is a growing sense of urgency and concern within Nato and if diplomacy fails, arming Kiev may become a serious option. | Now the balance of the debate is shifting in the US too, but still there is no clear will to provide weapons to the Kiev government. There is a growing sense of urgency and concern within Nato and if diplomacy fails, arming Kiev may become a serious option. |
| Nato readjusts as Ukraine crisis looms | Nato readjusts as Ukraine crisis looms |
| 'Spearhead force' | |
| A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss "the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine". | A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss "the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine". |
| Correspondents say it is not clear how the latest attempt will differ from previous, aborted peace efforts - but there is speculation that Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel hope to discourage the US from supplying Ukraine with weapons. | Correspondents say it is not clear how the latest attempt will differ from previous, aborted peace efforts - but there is speculation that Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel hope to discourage the US from supplying Ukraine with weapons. |
| The talks in Kiev come as Nato unveils details of a plan to bolster its military presence in Eastern Europe in response to the Ukraine crisis. | The talks in Kiev come as Nato unveils details of a plan to bolster its military presence in Eastern Europe in response to the Ukraine crisis. |
| A new rapid reaction "spearhead" force of up to 5,000 troops is expected to be announced, with its lead units able to deploy at two days' notice. | A new rapid reaction "spearhead" force of up to 5,000 troops is expected to be announced, with its lead units able to deploy at two days' notice. |
| Nato is also establishing a network of small command centres in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. | Nato is also establishing a network of small command centres in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. |
| New sanctions | New sanctions |
| Meanwhile, officials said on Thursday that the European Union is adding 19 people, including five Russians, to its sanctions list over the Ukraine crisis. | Meanwhile, officials said on Thursday that the European Union is adding 19 people, including five Russians, to its sanctions list over the Ukraine crisis. |
| Nine "entities" will also be targeted by the sanctions, which were reportedly agreed at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers last week. | Nine "entities" will also be targeted by the sanctions, which were reportedly agreed at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers last week. |
| Fighting has intensified in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks amid a rebel offensive. | Fighting has intensified in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks amid a rebel offensive. |
| The fiercest fighting has been near the town of Debaltseve, where rebels are trying to surround Ukrainian troops. The town is a crucial rail hub linking the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. | The fiercest fighting has been near the town of Debaltseve, where rebels are trying to surround Ukrainian troops. The town is a crucial rail hub linking the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. |
| Some 1.2 million Ukrainians have fled their homes since last April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea. | Some 1.2 million Ukrainians have fled their homes since last April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea. |