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Ukraine crisis to top agenda at EU meeting in Riga Ukraine crisis: EU's Mogherini calls for efforts on truce
(about 3 hours later)
EU foreign ministers are to meet in the Latvian capital Riga with the Ukraine crisis expected to dominate the agenda. The EU's foreign policy chief has called for international efforts to make a fragile ceasefire for eastern Ukraine stick.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Federica Mogherini insisted implementation of the Mink peace deal was "the way forward".
This comes after senior figures in the US Congress called for Washington to send lethal defence weapons to Ukraine.
The Ukraine crisis expected to dominate the agenda at the meeting in Riga.
Ms Mogherini admitted the ceasefire agreed in Minsk last month was "not perfect", but described the overall outlook as "positive".
"What Ukraine needs now is not only the full respect of its sovereignty, of its territorial integrity, but it is also peace," she said.
"And we have to work, all together on these two dimensions."
President Obama is said to be studying the option of sending weapons to government forces in Ukraine, but this would put him at odds with his European counterparts, most notably German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told German radio on Friday that if aggression from pro-Russian separatists continued, the need to help the Kiev authorities "protect themselves" would only increase.
"We also know that if we were to supply more defence technology, Russia could easily counter that by providing two, three or four times what we do," he told DLF.
In a separate development, Britain is to provide a further £850,000 ($1.29m; €1.18m) worth of lethal defensive equipment to Ukraine.
Baltic concerns
The EU meeting in the the Latvian capital Riga comes amid heightened tension over the situation in Ukraine.
Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania have voiced concern about what they see as Russia's increasingly aggressive attitude.Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania have voiced concern about what they see as Russia's increasingly aggressive attitude.
Lithuania has reintroduced conscription and Estonia has accused Moscow of being behind a number of cyber-attacks.
The Baltic states fear Nato and the EU move too slowly to counter Russia's actions.
Latvia, which is hosting the informal meeting, currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
The summit comes as Nato continues to increase its military presence in the Baltic states, with several military drills and training exercises in Lithuania in recent weeks.
Correspondents say it is a deliberate show of force and an act of unity against an alleged threat from Russia to the former Soviet states.
The authorities in Lithuania are also bringing back conscription after a rise in snap military drills by Russian forces as well as overflights along its border.
UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon recently described Russia as a "real and present danger" to the Baltic states. But Moscow rejects the claims.
On Thursday Russia announced large-scale military exercises in the annexed Crimea as well as breakaway regions of Georgia.
Katya Adler, BBC Europe editor,Katya Adler, BBC Europe editor,
Planned long ago, Riga turns out to be a very fitting place for EU foreign ministers to meet.Planned long ago, Riga turns out to be a very fitting place for EU foreign ministers to meet.
Ukraine will top the discussion agenda and Latvia, along with its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania view themselves as the frontline between the EU and a bellicose Russia.Ukraine will top the discussion agenda and Latvia, along with its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania view themselves as the frontline between the EU and a bellicose Russia.
Lithuania is re-introducing military conscription following an upsurge in Russian snap military drills and overflights along its border.Lithuania is re-introducing military conscription following an upsurge in Russian snap military drills and overflights along its border.
The Baltic states fear that multi-national, consensus-based Nato and the EU move too slowly to counter Russia's unpredictable President Vladimir Putin.The Baltic states fear that multi-national, consensus-based Nato and the EU move too slowly to counter Russia's unpredictable President Vladimir Putin.
The Estonian Prime Minister, Taavi Roivas, told me his country was already suffering non-conventional attacks from Russia in the form of cyber-warfare and disinformation.The Estonian Prime Minister, Taavi Roivas, told me his country was already suffering non-conventional attacks from Russia in the form of cyber-warfare and disinformation.
Baltic states shiver as Russia flexes musclesBaltic states shiver as Russia flexes muscles
The meeting comes amid heightened tension over the crisis in Ukraine. They fear Nato and the EU have moved too slowly to counter Russia's actions.
Nato has increased its military presence in the Baltic states, with several military drills and training exercises in Lithuania in recent weeks.
Correspondents say it is a deliberate show of force and an act of unity against an alleged threat from Russia to the former Soviet states.
On Thursday Russia announced large-scale military exercises in the annexed Crimea as well as breakaway regions of Georgia.
At least 6,000 people are believed to have been killed since the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions erupted last April, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.At least 6,000 people are believed to have been killed since the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions erupted last April, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of helping the rebels with weapons and soldiers - a claim Moscow denies.Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of helping the rebels with weapons and soldiers - a claim Moscow denies.
Independent experts echo that accusation, but Russia insists that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".Independent experts echo that accusation, but Russia insists that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".