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Ukraine conflict: Mediators blame rebels over talks Germany says Russia failing to meet Ukraine commitments
(about 1 hour later)
International mediators have accused pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine of lacking willingness to reach a truce with the government. Germany has criticised Russia for failing to meet commitments to end the violence in Ukraine, and said it might face further EU sanctions.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) spoke out after a planned video conference call failed to take place on Tuesday. The warning follows talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Barack Obama and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko.
Fighting continues, with the government saying six soldiers died overnight. A spokesman for Mrs Merkel said all three were disappointed by Russia's failure to act.
EU leaders are expected to expand sanctions against Russia at their summit in Brussels on Wednesday. Meanwhile Ukrainian officials said six soldiers died overnight.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March and has been accused of fanning the rebellion in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March, and has been accused of fanning the rebellion in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Ahead of the EU summit, at least 40,000 malicious images and insults were posted to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Facebook page, likening her to Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop for her relations with Russia. More than 1,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukrainian security forces moved to regain control of the eastern regions, while tens of thousands of people have left the region.
More than 1,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukrainian security forces moved to regain control of the eastern regions, while tens of thousands of people have left the region. Both sides possess and use heavy weapons such as multiple rocket launchers and tanks. Both sides possess and use heavy weapons such as multiple rocket launchers and tanks.
Events took a potentially dangerous new turn on Sunday when a shell apparently fired from Ukraine hit Russian soil, killing one man. 'Insufficient'
'Ukrainian markings' EU leaders are meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, when they might choose to increase sanctions on Russia.
A video conference had been due to take place between the trilateral Contact Group - which includes representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE - and separatist leaders, the Contact Group said. Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said she had agreed with Mr Poroshenko in a phone call ahead of the summit that "Russia has been insufficient in meeting expectations" on steps to end the fighting.
Mr Seibert pointed out that pro-Russian rebels had still not joined talks between Kiev, Moscow and western mediators.
He said the two leaders "shared the judgement of the OSCE [Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe] that the separatists lack... the will to enter into serious talks on declaring a mutual ceasefire".
The OSCE spoke out against pro-Russian separatists on Tuesday after a planned video conference call failed to take place.
"In the opinion of the Contact Group, this indicates a lack of willingness on the side of the separatists to engage in substantive talks on a mutually agreed ceasefire," the OSCE said in a statement."In the opinion of the Contact Group, this indicates a lack of willingness on the side of the separatists to engage in substantive talks on a mutually agreed ceasefire," the OSCE said in a statement.
Eleven people died when a plane bombed a rebel-held town on Tuesday. The EU and US have already imposed some sanctions on Russian individuals and companies earlier this year, as Moscow annexed Crimea.
According to a draft statement seen by Reuters news agency, EU leaders will now also block loans for new projects in Russia by two multilateral lenders and broaden the scope of other sanctions.
The leaders will ask the European Investment Bank to suspend financing of new Russian public sector projects, the reported draft statement says.
They will also reportedly work together to suspend funding for new projects in Russia through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Ahead of Wednesday's EU summit, at least 40,000 malicious images and insults were posted to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Facebook page, likening her to Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop for her relations with Russia.
They are thought to have been posted by Ukrainians fiercely opposed to Russia or a Russian source trying to drive a wedge between Ukraine and Germany.
'Bloody provocation'
In the continuing violence, 11 people died when a plane bombed a rebel-held town on Tuesday.
Local people and rebels blamed the attack on the government, which denied involvement, amid Ukrainian suggestions a Russian warplane might have carried it out.Local people and rebels blamed the attack on the government, which denied involvement, amid Ukrainian suggestions a Russian warplane might have carried it out.
Ukrainian Security Council spokesman Andrei Lysenko called the bombing of Snizhne a "cynical and bloody provocation" aimed at discrediting Ukraine's armed forces.Ukrainian Security Council spokesman Andrei Lysenko called the bombing of Snizhne a "cynical and bloody provocation" aimed at discrediting Ukraine's armed forces.
Ukrainian defence analyst Dmitry Tymchuk argued the attack could only have been carried out by Russian jets as Ukrainian planes had carried out no flights since the An-26 transport plane was downed on Monday.Ukrainian defence analyst Dmitry Tymchuk argued the attack could only have been carried out by Russian jets as Ukrainian planes had carried out no flights since the An-26 transport plane was downed on Monday.
If true, it would be the first known occasion when a Russian warplane had become involved in the conflict.If true, it would be the first known occasion when a Russian warplane had become involved in the conflict.
Sergei, a rebel commander at the scene who declined to give his surname, told the Associated Press that local people bore witness to Ukrainian involvement.Sergei, a rebel commander at the scene who declined to give his surname, told the Associated Press that local people bore witness to Ukrainian involvement.
"Many local citizens saw the plane that dropped the bomb - it had Ukrainian markings," he said. "Why Ukraine would bomb its own territory is harder for me to say.""Many local citizens saw the plane that dropped the bomb - it had Ukrainian markings," he said. "Why Ukraine would bomb its own territory is harder for me to say."
Sanction push
The EU and US imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and companies earlier this year, as Moscow annexed Crimea.
According to a draft statement seen by Reuters news agency, EU leaders will now also block loans for new projects in Russia by two multilateral lenders and broaden the scope of other sanctions.
The leaders will ask the European Investment Bank to suspend financing of new Russian public sector projects, the reported draft statement says.
They will also reportedly work together to suspend funding for new projects in Russia through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
While the source of the spam to Mrs Merkel's account is unknown, the head of Ukraine's Institute of National Memory, Vyacheslav Vyatrovich, made the Ribbentrop comparison on his Facebook page on Monday, posting an image of her with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mrs Merkel was filmed sitting near him at the World Cup Final in Brazil, the BBC's Stephen Evans reports from Berlin, but the common perception within Germany is that she is actually deeply opposed to any Russian attempts to annex or destabilise parts of Ukraine.
The speculation in Germany is that the abusive images have either been put there by enraged Ukrainians who are fiercely against Russia, or by some Russian source which wants to drive a wedge between the Ukrainian government and Germany, our correspondent says.