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| Ukraine crisis to dominate G7 Brussels summit | Ukraine crisis to dominate G7 Brussels summit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Leaders of the G7 industrial nations are meeting in Brussels, with the Ukraine crisis set to dominate talks. | Leaders of the G7 industrial nations are meeting in Brussels, with the Ukraine crisis set to dominate talks. |
| It is their first meeting since Russia was removed from the club following its annexation of Crimea in March. | It is their first meeting since Russia was removed from the club following its annexation of Crimea in March. |
| In a joint statement, G7 leaders said they were prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia over its interference in Ukraine. | In a joint statement, G7 leaders said they were prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia over its interference in Ukraine. |
| Earlier in Poland, US President Barack Obama warned Moscow against what he called its "dark tactics" in Ukraine. | Earlier in Poland, US President Barack Obama warned Moscow against what he called its "dark tactics" in Ukraine. |
| Mr Obama is on a three-state European tour ending with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France on Friday. | Mr Obama is on a three-state European tour ending with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France on Friday. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony. | Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony. |
| Although President Putin is not attending the Brussels summit, he will hold face-to-face talks with some G7 leaders - not including President Obama - in Paris afterwards. | |
| Polish anniversary | Polish anniversary |
| G7 leaders gathered in Brussels on Wednesday evening for the summit's opening dinner. | G7 leaders gathered in Brussels on Wednesday evening for the summit's opening dinner. |
| "We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to consider meaningful additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require," the leaders said in a joint statement. | "We stand ready to intensify targeted sanctions and to consider meaningful additional restrictive measures to impose further costs on Russia should events so require," the leaders said in a joint statement. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters: "We can't afford a further destabilisation of Ukraine." | German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters: "We can't afford a further destabilisation of Ukraine." |
| "We have made clear that we want to continue with our three-step approach - support Ukraine in economic issues, talks with Russia, and should there no progress on all those issues... the possibility of sanctions, tougher sanctions, remains on the table," she said. | "We have made clear that we want to continue with our three-step approach - support Ukraine in economic issues, talks with Russia, and should there no progress on all those issues... the possibility of sanctions, tougher sanctions, remains on the table," she said. |
| Earlier, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he expected the G7 to send a clear message of support for Ukraine, as well as calling for Russia to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis. | Earlier, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he expected the G7 to send a clear message of support for Ukraine, as well as calling for Russia to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis. |
| The summit was originally to have been held in the Russian city of Sochi. | The summit was originally to have been held in the Russian city of Sochi. |
| Speaking in Warsaw earlier to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, Mr Obama hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine. | Speaking in Warsaw earlier to mark 25 years since the fall of communism in Poland, Mr Obama hailed Polish democracy as a beacon for neighbouring Ukraine. |
| He also met Ukraine's 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. |
| But he also condemned what he called Russian "aggression" in eastern Ukraine, | But he also condemned what he called Russian "aggression" in eastern 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. |
| 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. |
| Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May. | Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire sweet manufacturer, was elected in May. |
| He will be at the D-Day commemorations ahead of his inauguration on Saturday. He said he did not rule out meeting Mr Putin. | |
| Mr Putin told French TV he was "not going to avoid any of them" but said Mr Poroshenko needed to be serious about a dialogue with factions in eastern Ukraine. | |
| "I think that Mr Poroshenko has a unique opportunity. He still doesn't have blood on his hands. He still can stop this reprisal operation and start a direct dialogue with citizens of the south and the east of his country," he said. | |
| 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. |