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Ukraine crisis: Fighting in the east 'must end this week' | Ukraine crisis: Fighting in the east 'must end this week' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Deadly fighting in eastern Ukraine must end "this week", Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko has pledged. | Deadly fighting in eastern Ukraine must end "this week", Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko has pledged. |
He was speaking at talks involving an envoy from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Russia's ambassador to Ukraine. | |
Meanwhile, fighting has continued in and around the rebel-held city of Sloviansk. | Meanwhile, fighting has continued in and around the rebel-held city of Sloviansk. |
Kiev and the West accuse Russia of supporting separatists in the east - a claim denied by Moscow. | Kiev and the West accuse Russia of supporting separatists in the east - a claim denied by Moscow. |
In a separate development, officials from Ukraine, Russia and the European Union are due to meet in Brussels to discuss Kiev's huge gas debt to Moscow. | In a separate development, officials from Ukraine, Russia and the European Union are due to meet in Brussels to discuss Kiev's huge gas debt to Moscow. |
Russia has threatened to cut its gas supplies to Ukraine, if no solution is found. This potentially could disrupt supplies to the EU, as about 15% of Europe's gas from Russia transits through Ukraine. | Russia has threatened to cut its gas supplies to Ukraine, if no solution is found. This potentially could disrupt supplies to the EU, as about 15% of Europe's gas from Russia transits through Ukraine. |
Crisis meetings | Crisis meetings |
"We must stop the gunfire this week," Mr Poroshenko said in a statement, a day after his inauguration in Kiev. | "We must stop the gunfire this week," Mr Poroshenko said in a statement, a day after his inauguration in Kiev. |
"For me, every day that people die, every day that Ukraine pays such a high price is unacceptable." | "For me, every day that people die, every day that Ukraine pays such a high price is unacceptable." |
He stressed that it was vital to "restore the Ukrainian border so that the safety of each Ukrainian citizen is guaranteed". | He stressed that it was vital to "restore the Ukrainian border so that the safety of each Ukrainian citizen is guaranteed". |
The president's comments came after the meeting with the special envoy from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Heidi Tagliavini, and the Russian ambassador to Kiev, Mikhail Zurabov. | |
Mr Poroshenko also suggested to hold daily meetings of the so-called trilateral "contact group" to try to achieve a peaceful settlement in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | Mr Poroshenko also suggested to hold daily meetings of the so-called trilateral "contact group" to try to achieve a peaceful settlement in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
Meanwhile, fighting continued in Sloviansk on Sunday. | Meanwhile, fighting continued in Sloviansk on Sunday. |
Gunfire was also reported in the town of Torez, with reports in Ukraine's media suggesting there were casualties. | Gunfire was also reported in the town of Torez, with reports in Ukraine's media suggesting there were casualties. |
Pro-Russian gunmen are continuing to hold a number of government buildings in the east, despite the ongoing "counter-terror operation" by Ukrainian government troops. | Pro-Russian gunmen are continuing to hold a number of government buildings in the east, despite the ongoing "counter-terror operation" by Ukrainian government troops. |
'Never surrender' | 'Never surrender' |
Mr Poroshenko was sworn in as president on Saturday, after winning the 25 May elections. | Mr Poroshenko was sworn in as president on Saturday, after winning the 25 May elections. |
In his inauguration speech the 48-year-old tycoon offered political concessions to people in the east and said he did not want war or revenge. | In his inauguration speech the 48-year-old tycoon offered political concessions to people in the east and said he did not want war or revenge. |
He urged separatists in the east to lay down their arms, saying he would guarantee indemnity from criminal charges to all those who did not have blood on their hands. | He urged separatists in the east to lay down their arms, saying he would guarantee indemnity from criminal charges to all those who did not have blood on their hands. |
But he also said he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent meeting that Crimea, which Moscow annexed in March, would "always be Ukrainian". | But he also said he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent meeting that Crimea, which Moscow annexed in March, would "always be Ukrainian". |
Some separatists dismissed the speech, saying they would "never surrender". | Some separatists dismissed the speech, saying they would "never surrender". |
Mr Poroshenko succeeded Viktor Yanukovych, who fled in February after mass street protests in Kiev. | Mr Poroshenko succeeded Viktor Yanukovych, who fled in February after mass street protests in Kiev. |
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