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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
(35 minutes later)
Russia must act to fully comply with the peace plan for eastern Ukraine and EU sanctions will remain in place until he does, David Cameron has said after a meeting with Vladimir Putin and other EU leaders in Milan.
In an encounter that had been considered a chance for Moscow to pursue dialogue with Kiev and major EU powers, Putin attended a breakfast with Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine, alongside the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy and top EU officials.
“It was a positive meeting because it was with both the president of Russia and the president of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin said very clearly that he doesn’t want a frozen conflict; he doesn’t want a divided Ukraine,” Cameron told reporters.
“But if that’s the case then Russia now needs to take the actions to put in place all that’s been agreed: getting Russian troops out of Ukraine, getting heavy weapons out of Ukraine and respecting all the written agreements and only recognising one legitimate set of Ukrainian elections. And if those things don’t happen then clearly the European Union, Britain included, must keep in place the sanctions and the pressure so that we don’t have this sort of conflict in our continent.”
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.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.
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 got from EU leaders on Friday, Putin spent Thursday 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.
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.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.