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| Ukraine crisis: Leaders in new diplomatic push for peace | Ukraine crisis: Leaders in new diplomatic push for peace |
| (about 1 hour 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 have arrived in the capital Kiev to present 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 more than 5,000 people since last April. | Fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels has killed more than 5,000 people since last April. |
| 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. |
| Speaking 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 said the US was committing an additional $16.5m (£11m) in aid to support Ukrainians affected by the conflict in the east. | |
| He accused Russia of violating Ukraine's sovereignty, saying that Russia had been acting with "impunity", crossing the Ukrainian border "at will with weapons, with personnel, with the instruments of death". | |
| "The only way that it ends is through diplomacy. We have no illusions that there is a 'military solution'... we are choosing a peaceful solution through diplomacy - but you cannot have a one-sided peace," Mr Kerry said. | |
| However, he added that Mr Obama was "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. | |
| 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 |
| 'Ukraine at war' | 'Ukraine at war' |
| Speaking earlier on Thursday, Mr Hollande said that 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". | However, he warned that diplomacy "cannot go on indefinitely". |
| "Ukraine is at war. Heavy weapons are being used and civilians are being killed daily," the French leader said. | "Ukraine is at war. Heavy weapons are being used and civilians are being killed daily," the French leader said. |
| Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday. | Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday. |
| 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". |
| 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. |
| Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War. | Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War. |
| 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. |
| Mr Stoltenberg said the bloc was responding to "the aggressive actions we have seen from Russia, violating international law and annexing Crimea". | Mr Stoltenberg said the bloc was responding to "the aggressive actions we have seen from Russia, violating international law and annexing Crimea". |
| 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. |
| On Thursday, both government and rebel officials said several civilians had been killed in clashes over the past 24 hours. Ukraine's military said five of its soldiers had died in the same period. | On Thursday, both government and rebel officials said several civilians had been killed in clashes over the past 24 hours. Ukraine's military said five of its soldiers had died in the same period. |
| 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. |