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Putin under pressure to commit to fragile peace plan for eastern Ukraine Putin under pressure to commit to fragile peace plan for eastern Ukraine
(about 2 hours later)
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, will come under intense pressure on Friday from EU leaders to commit fully to the fragile peace plan for eastern Ukraine as he meets his counterpart in Kiev for the first time since the truce was agreed. With violence continuing to flare in some parts of eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire between Kiev’s forces and separatist rebels – and urgency growing around an ongoing gas supply dispute – the spotlight at a summit of Asian and European leaders (ASEM) is firmly on Putin.
In an encounter considered a chance for Moscow to pursue dialogue with Kiev and major EU powers, Putin is due to attend a breakfast meeting in Milan with Petro Poroshenko alongside the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy and top EU officials.
With violence continuing to flare in some parts of eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire between Kiev’s forces and separatist rebels – and urgency growing around an ongoing gas supply dispute – the spotlight at a summit of Asian and European leaders (ASEM) was firmly on Putin.
His diplomatic blitz did not get off to the smoothest of starts, however, when a planned meeting with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, had to be cancelled on Thursday evening due to his late arrival, Deutsche Presse Agentur reported.His diplomatic blitz did not get off to the smoothest of starts, however, when a planned meeting with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, had to be cancelled on Thursday evening due to his late arrival, Deutsche Presse Agentur reported.
The two did eventually meet, according to a statement from Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, which said the leaders still had serious differences on how they viewed the conflict and the causes of the current situation. Putin also met former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, an old friend and continued political ally.The two did eventually meet, according to a statement from Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, which said the leaders still had serious differences on how they viewed the conflict and the causes of the current situation. Putin also met former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, an old friend and continued political ally.
In an altogether warmer embrace than the one he can expect from EU leaders on Friday, Putin had spent the day in Belgrade reaffirming ties with close ally Serbia amid a grand show of military pomp. In an altogether warmer embrace than the one he got from EU leaders on Friday, Putin spent Thursday in Belgrade reaffirming ties with close ally Serbia amid a grand show of military pomp.
Merkel, who is understood to have been a key driving force behind Friday morning’s meeting, had earlier said she would expect answers from Moscow over the shaky truce struck on 5 September in Minsk.Merkel, who is understood to have been a key driving force behind Friday morning’s meeting, had earlier said she would expect answers from Moscow over the shaky truce struck on 5 September in Minsk.
“It is above all Russia’s task to say clearly that the Minsk plan is really respected,” she told reporters. “Unfortunately, there are still very, very big shortcomings. But it is important to seek dialogue here.”“It is above all Russia’s task to say clearly that the Minsk plan is really respected,” she told reporters. “Unfortunately, there are still very, very big shortcomings. But it is important to seek dialogue here.”
Russia has denied all reports of its military activity in Ukraine.Russia has denied all reports of its military activity in Ukraine.
In an apparent gesture of cooperation at the weekend, Putin ordered more than 17,000 Russian troops to pull back from positions near the border. The Kremlin said he and Poroshenko had discussed ways of easing the simmering conflict in a phone call on Tuesday.In an apparent gesture of cooperation at the weekend, Putin ordered more than 17,000 Russian troops to pull back from positions near the border. The Kremlin said he and Poroshenko had discussed ways of easing the simmering conflict in a phone call on Tuesday.
But in recent days his rhetoric has not appeared that of the emollient peacemaker. On Wednesday he used an interview with the Serbian newspaper Politika to warn western leaders of “what discord between large nuclear powers can do to strategic stability”.But in recent days his rhetoric has not appeared that of the emollient peacemaker. On Wednesday he used an interview with the Serbian newspaper Politika to warn western leaders of “what discord between large nuclear powers can do to strategic stability”.
And on Thursday, referring to Ukraine and Russia’s dispute over gas supplies which saw Moscow turn off the tap in June, he warned the EU it would be the victim if Ukraine siphoned off gas intended for Europe this winter.And on Thursday, referring to Ukraine and Russia’s dispute over gas supplies which saw Moscow turn off the tap in June, he warned the EU it would be the victim if Ukraine siphoned off gas intended for Europe this winter.
“Russia always has been a reliable supplier. But there are big transit risks,” he said.“Russia always has been a reliable supplier. But there are big transit risks,” he said.
Diplomatic sources said they expected eastern Ukraine to dominate today’s breakfast meeting, which is being hosted by Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi and is scheduled to start at 8am local time (6am GMT). Merkel both met Poroshenko in a separate meeting on Thursday, and Renzi was due to later. The Italian premier has a bilateral meeting with Putin scheduled for Friday.
British prime minister David Cameron, who was due to arrive in Milan last night, is expected to attend alongside Merkel, French president François Hollande, president of the European council Herman Van Rompuy, European commission head Jose Manuel Barroso and Federica Mogherini, soon to be the EU’s foreign policy chief.
Merkel both met with Poroshenko in a separate meeting on Thursday, and Renzi was due to later. The Italian premier has a bilateral meeting with Putin scheduled for Friday.