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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ukraine conflict: Merkel takes peace plan to Obama | Ukraine conflict: Merkel takes peace plan to Obama |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Washington for talks with President Barack Obama on Monday amid reports of a rift over Ukraine. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Washington for talks with President Barack Obama on Monday amid reports of a rift over Ukraine. |
| As well as discussing a way forward in Ukraine, the pair are likely to discuss a range of other issues including counter-terrorism and trade. | As well as discussing a way forward in Ukraine, the pair are likely to discuss a range of other issues including counter-terrorism and trade. |
| As the crisis in Ukraine intensifies, America says it will stand with Europe but recent talks exposed divisions. | As the crisis in Ukraine intensifies, America says it will stand with Europe but recent talks exposed divisions. |
| Mrs Merkel has ruled out sending weapons to help Ukraine's military. | Mrs Merkel has ruled out sending weapons to help Ukraine's military. |
| The Ukrainian government is locked in a conflict with Russian-backed rebels which has claimed more than 5,300 lives and driven 1.5 million people from their homes. | The Ukrainian government is locked in a conflict with Russian-backed rebels which has claimed more than 5,300 lives and driven 1.5 million people from their homes. |
| Ukraine's war: The human cost | Ukraine's war: The human cost |
| Source: Figures from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 3 February, and UN report, 21 January | Source: Figures from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 3 February, and UN report, 21 January |
| Why has violence flared in eastern Ukraine? | Why has violence flared in eastern Ukraine? |
| There is pressure on President Obama to adopt a tougher stance, with some officials in Washington, as well as senior Republicans such as Senator John McCain, arguing that some form of military support is necessary, the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan reports from the US capital. | There is pressure on President Obama to adopt a tougher stance, with some officials in Washington, as well as senior Republicans such as Senator John McCain, arguing that some form of military support is necessary, the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan reports from the US capital. |
| Angela Merkel is said to be holding out hope for a diplomatic solution. | Angela Merkel is said to be holding out hope for a diplomatic solution. |
| Her trip to Washington comes days before she attends a summit in Minsk with the leaders of France, Russia and Ukraine. | Her trip to Washington comes days before she attends a summit in Minsk with the leaders of France, Russia and Ukraine. |
| She and French President Francois Hollande have been leading efforts to revive the Minsk peace plan which collapsed amid fighting over the winter. | She and French President Francois Hollande have been leading efforts to revive the Minsk peace plan which collapsed amid fighting over the winter. |
| The detailed proposals have not been released but the plan is thought to include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line. | The detailed proposals have not been released but the plan is thought to include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line. |
| 'Blankets versus tanks' | |
| Germany's peace efforts were sharply criticised by senior US Republicans who attended the weekend international security conference in Munich. | |
| Senator Lyndsey Graham, who attended with Senator John McCain, said: "At the end of the day, to our European friends, this is not working. You can go to Moscow until you turn blue in the face. Stand up to what is clearly a lie and a danger." | |
| Mr McCain said: "The Ukrainians are being slaughtered and we're sending them blankets and meals. Blankets don't do well against Russian tanks." | |
| However, US Secretary of State John Kerry denied any rift with EU leaders, saying, "I keep hearing people trying to create one. We are united, we are working closely together." | |
| US National Security Council spokesman Mark Stroh said Mr Obama was "looking forward to his discussions with Chancellor Merkel on Monday, particularly on Ukraine and particularly in light of her recent trips with President Hollande, to Ukraine and Russia". | US National Security Council spokesman Mark Stroh said Mr Obama was "looking forward to his discussions with Chancellor Merkel on Monday, particularly on Ukraine and particularly in light of her recent trips with President Hollande, to Ukraine and Russia". |
| "The President values the Chancellor's judgement, and appreciates her strong efforts in marshalling European support and maintaining Transatlantic unity throughout the Ukraine crisis," the spokesman said in a statement to the BBC. | "The President values the Chancellor's judgement, and appreciates her strong efforts in marshalling European support and maintaining Transatlantic unity throughout the Ukraine crisis," the spokesman said in a statement to the BBC. |
| "She has been tireless in her pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and the President anticipates a useful and informative discussion about this and other issues." | "She has been tireless in her pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and the President anticipates a useful and informative discussion about this and other issues." |
| What was the Minsk agreement? | What was the Minsk agreement? |
| Why violence is surging | Why violence is surging |