By the Guardian
Leaders Vladimir Putin (Russia), Francois Hollande (France) and Angela Merkel (Germany) will discuss solutions to the crisis in Ukraine. Putin’s Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the three leaders will discuss concrete solutions. The Guardian expressed its opinion about the meeting yesterday, in an article “Merkel and Hollande’s surprise Moscow visit raises hopes of Ukraine deal.”
The leaders of Germany and France announced the meeting with Putin in Moscow on Friday, in response to Kremlin’s proposal, inspiring hope for a breakthrough in the almost year-long conflict in Ukraine.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande’s eagerness to visit Moscow to discuss the war, peace and solutions to the crisis provoked suspicions that the Kremlin was trying to ruin European-U.S. relations. Putin said that he sent some initiatives to European leaders recently.
Merkel and Hollande met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev on Thursday night. The talks ended without any official declarations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Twitter that the leaders had discussed realization of the ceasefire agreement signed in Minsk in Sseptember.
Merkel will make her first visit to Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine on Friday. Over 5,000 people have died in the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Poroshenko and other high-ranking officials in Kiev.
Kerry said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk that Putin sent several ideas to France and Germany. Kerry added that the U.S. wanted to find a diplomatic solution and will consider all variants, including shipments of defense systems to Ukraine.
Diplomats and EU functionaries stated that clarion discussions of potential U.S. shipments were encouraging Russia and Europe to make a diplomatic deal, since both sides do not want the U.S. to realize their shipments.
Yatsenyuk clarified that Putin wanted to undermine consolidation of the EU and the U.S. He insisted that all sides, including Ukraine and the U.S., should take part in the negotiating process. Kerry was not planning to visit Moscow together with Merkel and Hollande.
The fighting in Ukraine continues, diplomatic negotiations are entering a key phase, Merkel plans to visit Washington at the start of next week, after meetings in Kiev and Moscow, to have a conversation with President Barack Obama.
Washington made it clear that it can directly provide Ukraine with military aid. In Kerry’s words, the U.S. president will make a decision on military assistance in the near future. Merkel is opposed to such aid, her visit to Moscow may become the last attempt to prevent shipments of American weapons to Ukraine and long-term transformation of Ukraine into a battlefield of the U.S. and Russia.
German diplomats in Washington emphasize that Merkel would not have visited Moscow if there were no prospects to strike a deal. The summit in Kazakhstan was ruined last month because Merkel considered it a waste of time.
Putin’s Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Merkel, Hollande and Putin will discuss solutions for the civil war in Ukraine. According to Peskov, Putin held an urgent session of the Russian Security Council to discuss the situation in the east of Ukraine. Putin’s Aide Yuri Ushakov hopes that the plan of Hollande and Merkel would consist of a complex approach and take the many proposals voiced by the Russian president into account.
Russia has denied its involvement in the military conflict many times, despite countless reports about it providing technical and military support to the rebels. Kiev fears that the territories in the east of Ukraine may be lost. Many politicians express readiness to accept a “frozen conflict”, in which Moscow would have to finance the rebels.
Moscow seems to want Kiev to finance the territories even after losing control over them. The Minsk Agreement may become the starting point for a new world agreement. According to EU diplomats, Putin wants to control the separatist territories to weaken and destabilize Ukraine in the future.
Putin’s proposals include demands for autonomy of pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, demands for upkeep of budget payments and public services on the territories. The EU certainly discourages Kiev from accepting the proposals, because such an agreement means financing the dissolution of one's own country.
Putin sweetened his demands with other proposals. Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich stated that the three leaders will discuss deployment of UN peacekeepers to the east of Ukraine. As the key mediator of the West in Ukraine, Merkel had over 40 talks with Putin in 2014.
Merkel’s latest meeting with Putin happened at the four-hour talks in Brisbane in November, followed by outspoken criticism against the Russian president in Sydney. Russia publicly declared peaceful intentions and accused Kiev of escalating violence.
This week, the Russian military declared a dramatic rise in the number of complaints from conscripts. The complaints are mainly about soldiers being forced to sign contracts and transferred beyond the border of the Rostov Oblast. Such a tactic, as was reported, was used to send troops to the east of Ukraine. Putin signed an order on Thursday to gather reservists for drills.
Yatsenyuk was very harsh in his response to Russia’s involvement in the separatist movement in the east. “If they need it, I could hand them my glasses.”
On Thursday, NATO members had a meeting to work out the details of the deployment of about 5,000 rapid reaction soldiers to Eastern Europe. The British Defense Ministry confirmed that the UK will send about 1,000 soldiers and four RAF Typhoon jets to patrol the aerospace of Baltic states.
Inspires hope for a settlement of the crisis in eastern UkraineBy the GuardianLeaders Vladimir Putin (Russia), Francois Hollande (France) and Angela Merkel (Germany) will discuss solutions to the crisis in Ukraine. Putin’s Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the three leaders will discuss concrete solutions. The Guardian expressed its opinion about the meeting yesterday, in an article “Merkel and Hollande’s surprise Moscow visit raises hopes of Ukraine deal.”The leaders of Germany and France announced the meeting with Putin in Moscow on Friday, in response to Kremlin’s proposal, inspiring hope for a breakthrough in the almost year-long conflict in Ukraine.Chancellor Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande’s eagerness to visit Moscow to discuss the war, peace and solutions to the crisis provoked suspicions that the Kremlin was trying to ruin European-U.S. relations. Putin said that he sent some initiatives to European leaders recently.Merkel and Hollande met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev on Thursday night. The talks ended without any official declarations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Twitter that the leaders had discussed realization of the ceasefire agreement signed in Minsk in Sseptember.Merkel will make her first visit to Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine on Friday. Over 5,000 people have died in the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Poroshenko and other high-ranking officials in Kiev.Kerry said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk that Putin sent several ideas to France and Germany. Kerry added that the U.S. wanted to find a diplomatic solution and will consider all variants, including shipments of defense systems to Ukraine.Diplomats and EU functionaries stated that clarion discussions of potential U.S. shipments were encouraging Russia and Europe to make a diplomatic deal, since both sides do not want the U.S. to realize their shipments.Yatsenyuk clarified that Putin wanted to undermine consolidation of the EU and the U.S. He insisted that all sides, including Ukraine and the U.S., should take part in the negotiating process. Kerry was not planning to visit Moscow together with Merkel and Hollande.The fighting in Ukraine continues, diplomatic negotiations are entering a key phase, Merkel plans to visit Washington at the start of next week, after meetings in Kiev and Moscow, to have a conversation with President Barack Obama.Washington made it clear that it can directly provide Ukraine with military aid. In Kerry’s words, the U.S. president will make a decision on military assistance in the near future. Merkel is opposed to such aid, her visit to Moscow may become the last attempt to prevent shipments of American weapons to Ukraine and long-term transformation of Ukraine into a battlefield of the U.S. and Russia.German diplomats in Washington emphasize that Merkel would not have visited Moscow if there were no prospects to strike a deal. The summit in Kazakhstan was ruined last month because Merkel considered it a waste of time.Putin’s Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Merkel, Hollande and Putin will discuss solutions for the civil war in Ukraine. According to Peskov, Putin held an urgent session of the Russian Security Council to discuss the situation in the east of Ukraine. Putin’s Aide Yuri Ushakov hopes that the plan of Hollande and Merkel would consist of a complex approach and take the many proposals voiced by the Russian president into account.Russia has denied its involvement in the military conflict many times, despite countless reports about it providing technical and military support to the rebels. Kiev fears that the territories in the east of Ukraine may be lost. Many politicians express readiness to accept a “frozen conflict”, in which Moscow would have to finance the rebels.Moscow seems to want Kiev to finance the territories even after losing control over them. The Minsk Agreement may become the starting point for a new world agreement. According to EU diplomats, Putin wants to control the separatist territories to weaken and destabilize Ukraine in the future.Putin’s proposals include demands for autonomy of pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, demands for upkeep of budget payments and public services on the territories. The EU certainly discourages Kiev from accepting the proposals, because such an agreement means financing the dissolution of one's own country.Putin sweetened his demands with other proposals. Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich stated that the three leaders will discuss deployment of UN peacekeepers to the east of Ukraine. As the key mediator of the West in Ukraine, Merkel had over 40 talks with Putin in 2014.Merkel’s latest meeting with Putin happened at the four-hour talks in Brisbane in November, followed by outspoken criticism against the Russian president in Sydney. Russia publicly declared peaceful intentions and accused Kiev of escalating violence.This week, the Russian military declared a dramatic rise in the number of complaints from conscripts. The complaints are mainly about soldiers being forced to sign contracts and transferred beyond the border of the Rostov Oblast. Such a tactic, as was reported, was used to send troops to the east of Ukraine. Putin signed an order on Thursday to gather reservists for drills.Yatsenyuk was very harsh in his response to Russia’s involvement in the separatist movement in the east. “If they need it, I could hand them my glasses.”On Thursday, NATO members had a meeting to work out the details of the deployment of about 5,000 rapid reaction soldiers to Eastern Europe. The British Defense Ministry confirmed that the UK will send about 1,000 soldiers and four RAF Typhoon jets to patrol the aerospace of Baltic sta
