5 March 2014 (BBC
News) Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has begun talks with counterparts from the US
and key EU states to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. The US wants
independent observers in the flashpoint region of Crimea and direct talks
between Kiev and Moscow. Russia is likely to call for greater representation
for Ukraine's Russian-speaking areas in the Kiev government. The EU earlier
offered 11bn euros ($15bn; £9bn) of aid to Ukraine and froze the assets of 18
Ukrainians.
European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso said the package of loans and grants over the next couple of
years was "designed to assist a committed, inclusive and reforms-oriented
government" in Kiev. Ukraine's finance ministry has predicted it needs
$35bn to rescue the economy.
Mr Lavrov met US Secretary of State
John Kerry and counterparts from the UK, Germany and France on the sidelines of
a long-planned conference on Lebanon in Paris. Nato and Russia are also due to
hold parallel talks in Brussels.
The Paris gathering is being seen
above all as a chance to test the waters for a dialogue about Ukraine, says the
BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall. But UK Foreign Secretary
William Hague said the Russians had already failed to appear at one meeting
with the Ukrainians in Paris so he was "not optimistic" of making
progress later. "If we cannot make progress on that course there will be
costs and consequences," he said, in reference to a threat of sanctions by
the US and EU.
In other developments:
- Hundreds of pro-Russian demonstrators have stormed the regional government building in Donetsk for the second time in recent days
- In Crimea, pro-Russian demonstrators have been turning away families bringing food and supplies to Ukrainian troops refusing to surrender their bases
- Russian forces have seized two Ukrainian missile-defence sites in Crimea, according to unconfirmed reports
- Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel announces plans to expand US military co-operation with Poland and Baltic states
Troops
believed to be Russian servicemen are in control of Ukrainian military bases in
Crimea
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