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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Ukraine crisis: Putin-EU talks 'positive but hard' | Ukraine crisis: Putin-EU talks 'positive but hard' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Russia's president and EU leaders have said their talks on the Ukraine crisis - also including Ukraine's president - were positive but difficult. | Russia's president and EU leaders have said their talks on the Ukraine crisis - also including Ukraine's president - were positive but difficult. |
| The UK, German, French and Italian leaders were expected to press Vladimir Putin to do more to end the fighting. | The UK, German, French and Italian leaders were expected to press Vladimir Putin to do more to end the fighting. |
| Correspondents say that while there was no sign of breakthrough, the main thing was to create trust between the sides. | Correspondents say that while there was no sign of breakthrough, the main thing was to create trust between the sides. |
| The West says Russia is arming separatist rebels and sending troops to eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies this. | The West says Russia is arming separatist rebels and sending troops to eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies this. |
| The EU insists that sanctions it introduced against Russia over its involvement in the crisis will remain until Moscow takes action to defuse the crisis. | The EU insists that sanctions it introduced against Russia over its involvement in the crisis will remain until Moscow takes action to defuse the crisis. |
| Ukraine and the rebels agreed a truce in September, but each side accuses the other of repeated shelling. | Ukraine and the rebels agreed a truce in September, but each side accuses the other of repeated shelling. |
| The separatists control parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | The separatists control parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| More than 3,600 people have been killed since the fighting erupted in April, following the annexation by Russia of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsular a month earlier. | More than 3,600 people have been killed since the fighting erupted in April, following the annexation by Russia of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsular a month earlier. |
| 'Full of misunderstandings' | 'Full of misunderstandings' |
| Mr Putin met his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and EU leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe (Asem) summit in the northern Italian city of Milan. | Mr Putin met his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and EU leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe (Asem) summit in the northern Italian city of Milan. |
| The other participants in the meeting included UK Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. | The other participants in the meeting included UK Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. |
| Mr Putin told reporters as he left the meeting that the talks were "good" and "positive", but his spokesman later described them as being "full of misunderstandings". | Mr Putin told reporters as he left the meeting that the talks were "good" and "positive", but his spokesman later described them as being "full of misunderstandings". |
| "Unfortunately, some participants of [the Milan] breakfast demonstrated complete unwillingness to understand the reality in south-eastern Ukraine," Dmitry Peskov said, quoted by Russian media. | "Unfortunately, some participants of [the Milan] breakfast demonstrated complete unwillingness to understand the reality in south-eastern Ukraine," Dmitry Peskov said, quoted by Russian media. |
| In a brief news conference after the talks, Italian Prime Minister Renzi said they were constructive but big differences remained. | In a brief news conference after the talks, Italian Prime Minister Renzi said they were constructive but big differences remained. |
| "I think we made a step ahead," he said. | "I think we made a step ahead," he said. |
| "I would underline the real desire to find a solution and we can be positive." | "I would underline the real desire to find a solution and we can be positive." |
| Meanwhile the UK prime minister said Mr Putin had made it clear he did not want a frozen conflict or a divided Ukraine. | Meanwhile the UK prime minister said Mr Putin had made it clear he did not want a frozen conflict or a divided Ukraine. |
| But David Cameron added that the sanctions would be kept in place until actions agreed as part of a peace plan last month in the Belarusian capital Minsk were taken. | But David Cameron added that the sanctions would be kept in place until actions agreed as part of a peace plan last month in the Belarusian capital Minsk were taken. |
| The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Milan says the talks were an unusual opportunity for the sides to get talking and build some sort of trust, which has so far been severely lacking. | The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Milan says the talks were an unusual opportunity for the sides to get talking and build some sort of trust, which has so far been severely lacking. |
| Minsk memorandum: Key points | Minsk memorandum: Key points |
| President Poroshenko met Ms Merkel ahead of Friday's talks, with both expressing regret that many points of the peace plan "had not yet been implemented", German government sources were quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | President Poroshenko met Ms Merkel ahead of Friday's talks, with both expressing regret that many points of the peace plan "had not yet been implemented", German government sources were quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. |
| Ms Merkel also met Mr Putin for two-and-a-half hours late at night on Thursday after the Russian president arrived late for the summit. | Ms Merkel also met Mr Putin for two-and-a-half hours late at night on Thursday after the Russian president arrived late for the summit. |
| Among other points, the plan envisages the withdrawal of heavy weaponry 15km (10 miles) by each side from the line of contact and the withdrawal of all foreign "mercenaries" from the conflict zone. | Among other points, the plan envisages the withdrawal of heavy weaponry 15km (10 miles) by each side from the line of contact and the withdrawal of all foreign "mercenaries" from the conflict zone. |
| Earlier this week, Mr Putin ordered the withdrawal of nearly 18,000 Russian troops stationed near the Ukrainian border. | Earlier this week, Mr Putin ordered the withdrawal of nearly 18,000 Russian troops stationed near the Ukrainian border. |
| However, Nato says it has seen no sign of any major Russian pullback. | However, Nato says it has seen no sign of any major Russian pullback. |
| Gas concern | Gas concern |
| Speaking ahead of the Milan talks, Mr Putin said he would not be blackmailed by the EU and US over the Ukrainian crisis. | Speaking ahead of the Milan talks, Mr Putin said he would not be blackmailed by the EU and US over the Ukrainian crisis. |
| In what was seen as a direct reference to US President Barack Obama, the Russian leader warned of "what discord between large nuclear powers can do to strategic stability". | In what was seen as a direct reference to US President Barack Obama, the Russian leader warned of "what discord between large nuclear powers can do to strategic stability". |
| In Milan, Mr Putin is also expected to discuss Russian gas supplies to Europe. Most of the gas is delivered via Ukraine. | In Milan, Mr Putin is also expected to discuss Russian gas supplies to Europe. Most of the gas is delivered via Ukraine. |
| The Russian president has already warned that Europe faced "major transit risks" unless Ukraine settled its gas row with Moscow. | The Russian president has already warned that Europe faced "major transit risks" unless Ukraine settled its gas row with Moscow. |
| Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine in the summer, accusing Kiev of failing to pay its debts. Ukraine says the price set by Moscow is unfair. | Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine in the summer, accusing Kiev of failing to pay its debts. Ukraine says the price set by Moscow is unfair. |
| The two-day Asem summit brings together more than 50 member states. | The two-day Asem summit brings together more than 50 member states. |