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| Obama condemns Russian 'dark tactics' in Ukraine | Obama condemns Russian 'dark tactics' in Ukraine |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has condemned Russian "aggression" in Ukraine. | US President Barack Obama has condemned Russian "aggression" in Ukraine. |
| Speaking in Warsaw to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, he hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine. | Speaking in Warsaw to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, he hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine. |
| "How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th Century to define the 21st?" he said. | "How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th Century to define the 21st?" he said. |
| Earlier Mr Obama met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country. | Earlier Mr Obama met Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko, and pledged support for plans to restore peace to the country. |
| Mr Obama called Mr Poroshenko a "wise selection" to lead Ukraine, and said the nation could become a vibrant, thriving democracy if the world community stood behind it. | Mr Obama called Mr Poroshenko a "wise selection" to lead Ukraine, and said the nation could become a vibrant, thriving democracy if the world community stood behind it. |
| Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May. | |
| Mr Obama pledged $5m (£3m) of military assistance to Kiev including body armour and night-vision goggles. | Mr Obama pledged $5m (£3m) of military assistance to Kiev including body armour and night-vision goggles. |
| The aid follows $18m promised since early March for food, clothes, radios and other equipment. | The aid follows $18m promised since early March for food, clothes, radios and other equipment. |
| Mr Obama has now arrived in Brussels for a meeting of the G7 major industrial nations, the first since Russia was removed from the G8 in protest over its annexation of Crimea in March. | Mr Obama has now arrived in Brussels for a meeting of the G7 major industrial nations, the first since Russia was removed from the G8 in protest over its annexation of Crimea in March. |
| He is expected to attend the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony but the two leaders have no meeting scheduled. | He is expected to attend the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony but the two leaders have no meeting scheduled. |
| Mr Poroshenko will be at the commemorations ahead of his inauguration on Saturday. He said he did not rule out meeting Mr Putin. | |
| He said he was working on a peace plan involving decentralisation of power, a wide amnesty and local elections, Reuters news agency reported. | |
| Symbolism | Symbolism |
| The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Obama chose to come to Poland for its symbolic value. | The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Obama chose to come to Poland for its symbolic value. |
| In his speech, the US president said that Poland's long struggle against occupation and tyranny was mirrored in the plight of Ukraine today. | In his speech, the US president said that Poland's long struggle against occupation and tyranny was mirrored in the plight of Ukraine today. |
| "We will not accept Russia's occupation of Crimea or its violations of Ukraine's sovereignty," Mr Obama said. | "We will not accept Russia's occupation of Crimea or its violations of Ukraine's sovereignty," Mr Obama said. |
| "As we've been reminded by Russia's aggression in Ukraine, our free nations cannot be complacent in pursuit of the vision we share - a Europe that is whole and free and at peace." | "As we've been reminded by Russia's aggression in Ukraine, our free nations cannot be complacent in pursuit of the vision we share - a Europe that is whole and free and at peace." |
| Later German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened Russia with further sanctions if Moscow failed to rein in separatists in eastern Ukraine. | Later German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened Russia with further sanctions if Moscow failed to rein in separatists in eastern Ukraine. |
| "It is decisive that President Putin use his influence to get the separatists to refrain from violence and intimidation, hand over their weapons and stop the occupations," she said in a speech to parliament. | "It is decisive that President Putin use his influence to get the separatists to refrain from violence and intimidation, hand over their weapons and stop the occupations," she said in a speech to parliament. |
| Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, separatist rebels have taken two military bases in the eastern region of Luhansk. | Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, separatist rebels have taken two military bases in the eastern region of Luhansk. |
| Separatists seized a border guard base after days of fierce combat, and a National Guard base after an attack which began on Tuesday. | Separatists seized a border guard base after days of fierce combat, and a National Guard base after an attack which began on Tuesday. |
| Fighting continues near the towns of Krasny Liman and Sloviansk in neighbouring Donetsk region. | Fighting continues near the towns of Krasny Liman and Sloviansk in neighbouring Donetsk region. |
| Ukrainian sources say rebels are trying to break out of encirclements by government forces. | Ukrainian sources say rebels are trying to break out of encirclements by government forces. |