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| Ukraine conflict: US accuses rebels of 'land grab' | Ukraine conflict: US accuses rebels of 'land grab' |
| (4 months later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine of a "blatant land grab". | US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine of a "blatant land grab". |
| He was speaking after reports that the rebels had extended the area they control, violating a ceasefire plan. | He was speaking after reports that the rebels had extended the area they control, violating a ceasefire plan. |
| Ukraine says Russia has more than 9,000 soldiers fighting alongside the rebels, a claim it denies. | Ukraine says Russia has more than 9,000 soldiers fighting alongside the rebels, a claim it denies. |
| Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany issued a joint call to end the fighting, following talks in Berlin. | Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany issued a joint call to end the fighting, following talks in Berlin. |
| Speaking after the meeting, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was not a breakthrough "but I think we saw tangible progress". | Speaking after the meeting, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was not a breakthrough "but I think we saw tangible progress". |
| He also said they had agreed on a procedure for pulling back heavy weapons 15km (nine miles) from a demarcation line defined in last year's Minsk agreement. | He also said they had agreed on a procedure for pulling back heavy weapons 15km (nine miles) from a demarcation line defined in last year's Minsk agreement. |
| His Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said, quoted by the Russian Interfax news agency, that if heavy weapons were withdrawn "we'll be able to speak of a substantial de-escalation of the current conflict". | His Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said, quoted by the Russian Interfax news agency, that if heavy weapons were withdrawn "we'll be able to speak of a substantial de-escalation of the current conflict". |
| 'Occupation bid' | 'Occupation bid' |
| Mr Kerry said the recent upsurge in fighting was "an alarming situation" adding that the US was "particularly concerned" by rebel moves to "attempt to gain control of a very significant rail juncture" in eastern Ukraine. | Mr Kerry said the recent upsurge in fighting was "an alarming situation" adding that the US was "particularly concerned" by rebel moves to "attempt to gain control of a very significant rail juncture" in eastern Ukraine. |
| He said there had been a large extension of the line of control that separates rebel-held territory from the rest of Ukraine. | He said there had been a large extension of the line of control that separates rebel-held territory from the rest of Ukraine. |
| "This is a blatant land grab and is in direct contravention to the Minsk [ceasefire] agreements which they signed up to," he added. | "This is a blatant land grab and is in direct contravention to the Minsk [ceasefire] agreements which they signed up to," he added. |
| The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, accused Russia of escalating the violence. | The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, accused Russia of escalating the violence. |
| She said a new peace proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin was little more than an attempt at military occupation. | She said a new peace proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin was little more than an attempt at military occupation. |
| "The plan would seek to legitimise territorial gains made by separatists in September as well as Russian personnel and equipment on the territory of Ukraine," she told a special meeting of the UN Security Council. | "The plan would seek to legitimise territorial gains made by separatists in September as well as Russian personnel and equipment on the territory of Ukraine," she told a special meeting of the UN Security Council. |
| "Let us pull the veil away from Putin's peace plan and call it for what it is - a Russian occupation plan." | "Let us pull the veil away from Putin's peace plan and call it for what it is - a Russian occupation plan." |
| Mr Putin put forward the proposal last week but the Kremlin said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had rejected it. | Mr Putin put forward the proposal last week but the Kremlin said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had rejected it. |
| A spokesman for Mr Putin said the proposal called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy artillery by both sides. | A spokesman for Mr Putin said the proposal called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy artillery by both sides. |
| But Ms Power said the plan would free Russia from a commitment it made in Minsk, Belarus, last September to withdraw its fighters and return the control of the international border to Ukraine. | But Ms Power said the plan would free Russia from a commitment it made in Minsk, Belarus, last September to withdraw its fighters and return the control of the international border to Ukraine. |
| Airport 'abandoned' | Airport 'abandoned' |
| More than 4,800 people have been killed and some 1.2 million displaced since pro-Russian rebels seized parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in April. | More than 4,800 people have been killed and some 1.2 million displaced since pro-Russian rebels seized parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in April. |
| The move followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March. | The move followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March. |
| Some of the fiercest clashes in recent days have centred on the airport in Donetsk city, which government troops and rebels have been fighting over for months. | Some of the fiercest clashes in recent days have centred on the airport in Donetsk city, which government troops and rebels have been fighting over for months. |
| Unconfirmed reports late on Wednesday said defending Ukrainian forces had abandoned the ruined complex. | Unconfirmed reports late on Wednesday said defending Ukrainian forces had abandoned the ruined complex. |
| There are also reports of a fresh separatist advance in an area north-west of the rebel-held city of Luhansk. Fighting is said to be centred on two checkpoints along a main road. | There are also reports of a fresh separatist advance in an area north-west of the rebel-held city of Luhansk. Fighting is said to be centred on two checkpoints along a main road. |
| On Wednesday, President Poroshenko said Russia had more than 9,000 troops and 500 tanks, heavy artillery and armoured personnel carriers in eastern Ukraine. | On Wednesday, President Poroshenko said Russia had more than 9,000 troops and 500 tanks, heavy artillery and armoured personnel carriers in eastern Ukraine. |
| Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said: "If this is not aggression, what is aggression?" | Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said: "If this is not aggression, what is aggression?" |
| Mr Poroshenko has cut short his visit in view to Davos of the worsening situation in eastern Ukraine. | Mr Poroshenko has cut short his visit in view to Davos of the worsening situation in eastern Ukraine. |
| Russia has repeatedly rejected claims by Ukraine and the West that it has been sending troops into Ukraine and arming the rebels. | Russia has repeatedly rejected claims by Ukraine and the West that it has been sending troops into Ukraine and arming the rebels. |
| However, Moscow acknowledges that Russian "volunteers" are fighting for the separatists. | However, Moscow acknowledges that Russian "volunteers" are fighting for the separatists. |
| Speaking ahead of the Berlin talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel played down hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough. | Speaking ahead of the Berlin talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel played down hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough. |
| "I don't want to raise huge expectations," she said. "It appears the ceasefire is becoming ever more brittle." | "I don't want to raise huge expectations," she said. "It appears the ceasefire is becoming ever more brittle." |
| In another development, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said a new law to increase the size of Ukraine's army to 250,000 personnel had been delivered to parliament on Wednesday. It signifies a rise of some 68,000 people, according to government figures. | In another development, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said a new law to increase the size of Ukraine's army to 250,000 personnel had been delivered to parliament on Wednesday. It signifies a rise of some 68,000 people, according to government figures. |
| Have you been affected by the recent events in Donetsk? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | Have you been affected by the recent events in Donetsk? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. |
| Please include a telephone number if you can be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Please include a telephone number if you can be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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