June 7, 2015
(BBC News Europe) President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel held
talks as the G7 summit of economic powers began in southern Germany. Moscow is
the target of European Union and US sanctions over its role in support of
Ukrainian rebels. Russia has been excluded from what was previously known as
the G8, since the annexation of Crimea last year.
The West
accuses Russia of sending military forces into eastern Ukraine to help the
rebels - a charge echoed by analysts. Moscow denies this, saying any Russian
soldiers there are volunteers. As he arrived in the Bavarian Alps, Mr Obama
said G7 leaders would discuss "standing up to Russian aggression" in
Ukraine.
The White
House issued a statement after Mr Obama's talks with Mrs Merkel, saying:
"The duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's full
implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's
sovereignty."
Germany,
Britain and the US want an agreement to offer support to any EU member state
tempted to withdraw backing for the sanctions on Moscow, which are hurting the
Russian economy. Last September's Minsk accord, involving Russia, pro-Russian
rebels and the Ukrainian government, included the establishment of a 30km
(19-mile) buffer zone between the two sides. But fighting has intensified in
recent weeks. In the latest incident, two Ukrainian coastguards were injured
when a blast ripped through their patrol boat in the port of Mariupol, though
the exact circumstances remain unclear.
The European
Union's President of the Council of Ministers, Donald Tusk, signalled a
toughening of sanctions in a statement at the G7. "If anyone wants to
start a debate about changing the sanctions regime, the discussion could only
be about strengthening it."
Read the full
article at
0 comments:
Post a Comment