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Ukraine crisis: EU's Mogherini calls for efforts on truce Ukraine crisis: EU's Mogherini urges efforts for truce
(about 2 hours later)
The EU's foreign policy chief has called for international efforts to make a fragile ceasefire for eastern Ukraine stick.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". Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Federica Mogherini insisted implementation of the Minsk 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.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. The Ukraine crisis is set to dominate the two-day talks in Riga, Latvia.
Ms Mogherini admitted the ceasefire agreed in Minsk last month was "not perfect", but described the overall outlook as "positive".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."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.""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 President Barack Obama is said to be studying the option of sending weapons to government forces in Ukraine, but this would put him at odds with some European leaders, 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.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."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. In a separate development, Britain is to provide a further £850,000 ($1.29m; €1.18m) worth of non-lethal defensive equipment to Ukraine.
Baltic concernsBaltic concerns
The EU meeting in the the Latvian capital Riga comes amid heightened tension over the situation in Ukraine. The EU meeting in the Latvian capital comes amid heightened tension over 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.
Katya Adler, BBC Europe editor, At the scene: Gavin Lee, BBC News, Riga
Planned long ago, Riga turns out to be a very fitting place for EU foreign ministers to meet. Here inside the multi-million pound Latvian national Library complex, the 28 EU foreign ministers are meeting for an event that's been long on the agenda.
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. Now with unfolding events in Ukraine, and allegations of Russian attempts to destabilise the Baltic states, the focus and urgency of these talks has been sharpened.
Lithuania is re-introducing military conscription following an upsurge in Russian snap military drills and overflights along its border. Latvian and Lithuanian ministers have told me that their immediate concern is what they perceive to be "Russia's information war" - anti-EU television and media propaganda that they claim is targeting the minority Russian speakers in the Baltic states.
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 Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Linos Linkevics, says he'll be using the summit to call on other EU members to address ways to counter the perceived threat.
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 ministers of all three Baltic states say they believe the EU should be moving faster to respond to Russia's unpredictable President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow continues to rejects accusations of aggressive action.
Baltic states shiver as Russia flexes musclesBaltic states shiver as Russia flexes muscles
They fear Nato and the EU have moved too slowly to counter Russia's actions.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.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.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. 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. During a briefing of the UN Security Council, the head of humanitarian aid operations, John Ging, said the number of people in eastern Ukraine without access to basic necessities was "staggering".
Independent experts echo that accusation, but Russia insists that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers". "Five million people across the country are now in need of humanitarian assistance - two million in government controlled areas and three million in non-government controlled areas," he said.
Meanwhile German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Russia's Sergei Lavrov called for the number of international monitors working for the OSCE security group in the conflict area to be increased to 1,000, according to Russia's foreign ministry.
OSCE officials said in February the number of monitors in eastern Ukraine would be increased to 350.
Ukraine and Western leaders say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with weapons and soldiers - something Moscow denies.
Independent experts echo the accusation, but Russia insists that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".