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Ukraine crisis: OSCE 'must double' ceasefire monitors | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Russia and Germany have called on the OSCE to double the number of observers monitoring a truce in eastern Ukraine to 1,000. | |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Franck-Walter Steinmeier urged the OSCE to "ramp up" its mission. | |
The group has said it has experienced problems gaining access to key areas. | |
Meanwhile, Ukrainian government sources told the BBC they believed Russian troops were still entering the country. | |
According to some claims, there could be at least 18,000 involved. | |
Last month's ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk required all foreign troops to leave the region. | |
'Guaranteed access' | |
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said his assessment was that the truce was holding, but he acknowledged "violations". | |
He told Reuters that the group was struggling to roll out its current mission, aimed at ensuring the removal of weapons and the implementation of the ceasefire. | |
"My main problem in this moment is not the numbers, it's the access," Mr Zannier said. | |
"If they had more access, I could get more out of them. That is really my challenge." | |
The EU's policy chief Federica Mogherini, agreed the OSCE's presence on the ground should be increased, but said it needed "guaranteed access". | |
Speaking after a meeting of foreign ministers in Riga she said there were plans to provide monitors with satellite equipment to observe areas "it is not possible to reach physically". | |
Analysis: Gavin Lee, BBC News, Riga | |
The two day talks here in Riga are dominated by the fragile ceasefire in Ukraine and the intensifying civil war in Libya. | |
But Latvian and Lithuanian ministers tell me they're using the summit to raise the issue of the perceived threat of Russia's "information war". | |
They claim anti-EU television and media propaganda is targeting the minority Russian speakers in the Baltic states. | |
The Secretary of State for the Latvian Defence Ministry, Janis Sarts, believes Russian propaganda is directly affecting some of the country's 500,000 Russian speakers, a quarter of its population. | |
He spoke of a "spell of propaganda" he feels is being used to destabilise the situation, alongside alleged military intimidation. | |
Baltic states shiver as Russia flexes muscles | |
On Monday, the leaders of Russia, Germany and France agreed to Ukraine's proposal to ask the OSCE to help with ensuring the ceasefire was held. | |
Both Ukraine and the pro-Russian rebels say they are withdrawing heavy weapons from the combat zone. But there have been reports of fighting. | |
'Not perfect' | |
Earlier, senior figures in the US Congress called for Washington to send lethal defence weapons to Ukraine. | |
US President Barack Obama is said to be studying the option, 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. |
The Ukraine crisis is set to dominate the two-day talks in Riga. | |
Ms Mogherini admitted the ceasefire agreed in Minsk last month was "not perfect", but described the overall outlook as "positive". | |
She said the European Union was "doing enough'' and insisted that the implementation of the peace deal was "the way to go forward". | |
Military exercises | |
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. |
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. |