Article:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared Monday that Russian aggression in Ukraine has only reinforced the unity of the U.S. and Europe, as they weighed the prospects of reviving an elusive peace plan to end the conflict. 
  
 German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a joint news conference with President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The leaders were expected to... (Associated Press) 
  
 President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk in together to begin their joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The leaders were... (Associated Press) 
  
 German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, is greeted by Office of the Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Peter A. Selfridge, left, upon her arrival at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Monday,... (Associated Press) 
  
 President Barack Obama speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The leaders were expected to... (Associated Press) 
  
 President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel participate in a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The leaders were expected to... (Associated Press) 
  
 President Barack Obama listens as German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during their joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The leaders were expected... (Associated Press) 
  
 President Barack Obama pauses during his joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The leaders were expected to... (Associated Press) 
  
 Still, Obama held open the prospect that if a new round of diplomacy this week fails, the U.S. could send Ukraine's beleaguered military defensive weaponry. The president said that while he has yet to make a decision on lethal aid, his team is considering "whether there are additional things we can do to help Ukraine bolster its defenses in the face of Russian aggression." 
  
 Merkel and other European leaders staunchly oppose arming Ukraine, in part out of fear of sparking a proxy war with Russia. 
  
 The U.S. and Europe have largely been in agreement on their response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, raising the prospect that a public split over lethal aid is a tactic to push Russian Vladimir Putin to agree to a peace plan. 
  
 During a joint White House news conference with Obama, Merkel reaffirmed that she sees no military solution to the fighting in eastern Ukraine. However, she added that no matter what Obama decides, "the alliance between the United states and Europe will continue to stand, will continue to be solid." 
  
 Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met with Putin and Ukrainian leaders last week and announced a new summit meeting for Wednesday in Minsk. The United States was not at the negotiating table last week, nor will it participate in Wednesday's talks. 
  
 Merkel, who has perhaps the most productive relationship with Putin of any Western leader, said reaching a diplomatic agreement was crucial to keeping the peace in Europe. 
  
 "I myself actually would not be able to live without having made this attempt," she said through a translator. 
  
 More than 5,300 people have been killed since fighting in eastern Ukraine began in April, according to a U.N. tally. The bloodshed has markedly increased over the past two weeks, sparking both the new diplomatic maneuvering and Obama's re-evaluation of sending Ukraine defensive military aid. 
  
 The president gave no indication of how quickly he would make a decision on possibly ramping up military assistance to Ukraine, nor did he indicate whether there was a specific development that might trigger that step. 
  
 "The measure by which I make these decisions is, is it more likely to be effective than not," he said. 
  
 The U.S. has so far limited its military assistance to non-lethal equipment, including gas masks and radar technology to detect incoming fire. If Obama approves lethal aid, the U.S. could send Ukraine anti-tank missiles, such as the Javelin weapon system, along with armored vehicles. 
  
 The U.S. and Europe have largely focused their punitive measures against Russia on several rounds of economic sanctions. The penalties, along with plummeting oil prices, have caused significant damage to Russia's economy. 
  
 The European Union decided Monday to temporarily hold off on ordering more sanctions on Russians and Ukrainian separatists while awaiting the outcome of the peace talks. 
  
 Details of the proposals being discussed between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France have not been revealed, but the main sticking points have emerged in the leaders' recent comments. 
  
 One is enforcing a peace deal. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has expressed opposition to any peacekeeper force, apparently reflecting concern that sending Russian peacekeeping troops into eastern Ukraine could result in a de facto occupation. 
  
 However, key to a real settlement is some mechanism for monitoring the Ukraine-Russia border to ensure that Russia is not sending troops or equipment to the separatists. Ukrainian officials would have the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe conduct such monitoring. 
  
 The status of the eastern regions remains contentious. Ukraine passed a law last year proposing what it called significant autonomy for the east, but rebels dismissed it as vague and meaningless. Russia has pushed for "federalization" of Ukraine, which would presumably give the east significant independence, but Ukrainian authorities oppose that. 
  
 Obama and Merkel also discussed the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State militants and the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. The U.S. and Germany, along with their negotiating partners, are discussing with Iran the outlines of a framework agreement ahead of a late March deadline. 
  
 The negotiations have been extended before. Obama said Monday that he does not believe an extension would be "useful" unless Iran can agree to the basic outlines of a deal. 
  
 "They should be able to get to yes," Obama said. "But we don't know if that's going to happen." 
  
 _ 
  
 Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC ||||| CLOSE President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a united front against Russia in talks at the White House, saying they would continue to mount diplomatic and economic pressure to get Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. VPC 
  
 President Obama listens to Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel during a joint news conference at the East Room of the White House Monday. Obama and Merkel met in Washington to discuss a wide variety of issues including Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, international trade and the forthcoming G-7 Summit in June 2015. EPA/MICHAEL KAPPELER ORG XMIT: FAX202 (Photo: MICHAEL KAPPELER, EPA) 
  
 WASHINGTON — President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a united front against Russia in talks at the White House Monday, saying they would continue to mount diplomatic and economic pressure to get Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. 
  
 There were hints of disagreements about what the strategy might be if those efforts fail, but both leaders kept the nature of those disagreements behind closed doors. 
  
 At a joint press conference following their morning meeting in the Oval Office, Obama said he was "very encouraged about the extent to which we've been able to maintain U.S.-European unity on this issue." 
  
 "We are in absolute agreement that the 21st century cannot have us stand idle and allow the borders of Europe to be redrawn by the barrel of a gun," Obama said. But then he also suggested that there may be "tactical disagreements" about what happens if diplomatic efforts fail. 
  
 Those disagreements stem from the possibility of military aid to Ukraine to fend off pro-Russian separatists. "The possibility of lethal defensive weapons is one of those options that's being examined," Obama said. Merkel opposes that course. 
  
 Both Obama and Merkel said no decision has been made about military options. 
  
 "I've always said I don't see a military solution in this conflict, but we have to put all our efforts behind a diplomatic solution," Merkel said, speaking in German. "But if, at a certain point in time, one has to say that a success is not possible, even if one puts every effort into it, then the United States and Europe have to sit together and try and explore further possibilities, what one can do." 
  
 The meeting comes amid a whirlwind of airplane diplomacy among NATO powers Ukraine and Russia. With talks in Munich and Kiev unable to forge a diplomatic solution last week, the two sides announced a new summit Wednesday in Minsk. 
  
 But other issues were also on the agenda. Obama focused largely on security concerns: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran and the Islamic State. Merkel opened her remarks by talking about trade and economics. 
  
 The two leaders also discussed what's become a sore point in their relationship: Revelations that the U.S. National Secuerity Agency spied on Merkel as part of a vast electronic surveillance effort revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. 
  
 Merkel acknowledged the privacy concerns, but said the information provided by the U.S. spy agency was indispensable. "If we look at the sheer dimension of the terrorist threat, we are more than aware of the fact that we need to work together very closely," she said. 
  
 Obama said the issue was complicated. 
  
 "There's no doubt that the Snowden revelations damaged impressions of Germans with respect to the U.S. government and our intelligence cooperation," he said. "And what I have done over the last year, year and a half is to systematically work through some of these issues to create greater transparency and to restore confidence, not just for Germans, but for our partners around the world." 
  
 The Obama-Merkel press conference followed a morning meeting in the Oval Office with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, national security adviser Susan Rice and deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes. On Merkel's side were her foreign policy adviser, Christoph Heusgen, economic adviser Lars-Hendrik Roeller and spokesman Steffen Seibert 
  
 Also on the schedule Monday: a "working lunch" with Obama, Merkel and Biden. 
  
 Follow @gregorykorte on Twitter. 
  
  
  
  
  
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Dct5MC ||||| Story highlights U.S. President Barack Obama says he hasn't decided yet whether to send weapons to Ukraine 
  
 Germany's Angela Merkel: "I've always said I don't see a military solution to this conflict" 
  
 Leaders are planning possible talks in Belarus Wednesday 
  
 (CNN) Would sending weapons to Ukraine block Russia from grabbing territory and stem violence in the volatile region? Or would it fuel further conflict and destabilize Europe? 
  
 That's a key issue Western leaders are weighing. And even as they tried to present a unified front at a press briefing Monday, it was clear that it's an area where U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel don't quite see eye to eye. 
  
 Obama said he hasn't decided yet whether to send arms to Ukrainian forces defending their country against Russian-backed separatists, and he hasn't set a deadline for when he will. But he insists it's an option that should be considered if diplomacy fails. 
  
 Any weapons the U.S. sends would not be meant to help Ukraine defeat the Russian army in an all-out battle, Obama said. 
  
 "Our goal has not been for Ukraine to be equipped to carry out offensive operations," he said, "but to simply defend itself." ||||| As the leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia agreed to meet in Belarus to try and broker a peace deal, Mr Hammond appeared on Sky News to denounce the Kremlin's behaviour as "outrageous and outdated". 
  
 The US is considering moves to provide additional supplies and arms to the government in Ukraine - as Russia has been accused of doing with sectarian rebels - but the EU has denied the emergence of a transatlantic rift on the issue. 
  
 After meeting the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she respected the internal debate on the subject in the US and "it is up to them to discuss and decide". 
  
 Defence Secretary Philip Hammond with the US Secretary of State John Kerry "We are united when it comes to support to Ukraine ... we are united when it comes to economic pressure and we are united also on ... the need to have a political dialogue," she said. 
  
 Mr Hammond said a decision on whether Britain would also help arm the Ukrainian military was “under review”, but demanded Russia withdraw its troops not only from Donetsk but also from Crimea, which Putin annexed in March last year. 
  
 “Don't make it sound like that is an outrageous thing for us to demand [of Mr Putin],” the minister told Sky News’ Murnaghan programme. 
  
 “This man has sent troops across an international border and occupied another country's territory in the 21st century acting like some mid-20th century tyrant. 
  
 “We do not behave like that. Civilised nations do not behave like that in the 21st century. We live in a rules-based society. We want the Russian people to be part of that international community. 
  
 “We want Russia to enjoy the kind of economic growth and rising standards of living that people in the rest of Europe enjoy and we do not see any reason to tolerate this kind of outrageous and outdated behaviour from the Kremlin.” 
  
 After a joint phone call today involving Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel, the French president Francois Hollande, Mr Poroshenko and Mr Putin, the four agreed to talks in Minsk which will aim to agree an immediate ceasefire. 
  
 French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, speaking on French television, said he feared a "dramatic spiral" in violence if dialogue with Moscow did not succeed. 
  
 Mr Hammond dismissed an earlier claim from France’s Mr Hollande that current talks were the “last chance for peace” in Ukraine – noting that a military conflict is already under way. But he agreed that a political solution was the only way to end the crisis, adding that “the Kremlin, Mr Putin, has to understand he will pay a political and economic price for what he is doing in the Ukraine”. 
  
 At least 5,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since April 2014, when the country's Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovich was forced out during mass street protests in Kiev. ||||| MUNICH (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that it's uncertain whether a flurry of diplomacy aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine will succeed. 
  
 German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers her speech at the 51. Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The conference on security policy takes place from Feb. 6, 2015... (Associated Press) 
  
 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the 51. Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The conference on security policy takes place from Feb. 6, 2015 until Feb.... (Associated Press) 
  
 Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, French President Francois Hollande, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pose for a photo during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday,... (Associated Press) 
  
 Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, embraces U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during the 51. Security Conference Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The conference on security policy takes... (Associated Press) 
  
 Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pose for a photo prior to their and French President Francois Hollande's meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday,... (Associated Press) 
  
 German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures during her speech at the 51. Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The conference on security policy takes place from Feb. 6,... (Associated Press) 
  
 Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrive for the 51. Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The conference on security policy takes... (Associated Press) 
  
 Merkel insisted after returning from talks in Moscow the previous night that "this crisis cannot be solved by military means" and "substantial steps" are needed to "fill with life" a much-violated September peace deal. 
  
 Addressing the Munich Security Conference, Merkel said of the latest peace efforts that "it is uncertain whether they will be successful." However she said that she and French President Francois Hollande, who accompanied her to Kiev on Thursday and Moscow on Friday, believe it is "in any case worth making this attempt." 
  
 "We have not yet had sufficiently good experiences" with agreements that have been made being honored on the grounds, she said, but that the answer to that can't be not to seek agreements. 
  
 Merkel also said she is "very doubtful" about the wisdom of supplying weapons to Ukraine, underlining doubts in Europe about a move advocated by some in the U.S. 
  
 Merkel's speech was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. She planned to hold a three-way meeting with both on the sidelines. 
  
 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry are also attending the conference. 
  
 Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko plan to confer on Sunday by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
  
 Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said after Friday's talks that efforts were moving forward. 
  
 "Work is currently underway on drafting the text of a possible joint document on the implementation of the Minsk agreement, which would include the proposals made by the president of Ukraine and President Putin," Peskov said. ||||| MOSCOW — As the deadly violence in Ukraine ramps up, so does the international scramble to find a solution. 
  
 President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met to discuss the crisis Monday in Washington, while in Brussels, Belgium, the European Union agreed on new sanctions against pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and their supporters. 
  
 In a joint news conference with Merkel, Obama said Russia has “violated just about every commitment” it made in the September Minsk agreement meant to help end the fighting in Ukraine. 
  
 “Instead of withdrawing from eastern Ukraine, Russian forces continue to operate there, training separatists and helping to coordinate attacks,” he said. 
  
 But the organization opted to delay implementing the sanctions for a week, to give more opportunity for a negotiated solution to take hold, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini told reporters. 
  
 The top priority, she said, “is to improve things on the ground,” where escalating fighting is taking a toll on civilians. 
  
 In Washington, Obama and Merkel were expected to discuss proposals to send lethal aid to the Ukrainian military. Merkel says that’s a bad idea. 
  
 “The progress that Ukraine needs cannot be achieved with more weapons,” she said. “I have grave doubts about the validity of this point.” 
  
 Merkel said she believes that if the West sends weapons to Ukraine, Russia could further step up its involvement in the conflict, possibly introducing its air force into the fight. 
  
 But U.S. Sen. John McCain, who supports arming Ukraine, said it’s a “harsh reality” that Russia’s military is supporting pro-Russian separatist rebels in Ukraine. 
  
 He said Russian President Vladimir Putin “does not want a diplomatic solution, he wants to dominate Ukraine as well as Russia’s other neighbors.” 
  
 The crisis comes nearly a year after Ukrainian officials and the U.S. government accused Russia of flooding Crimea with troops ahead of its widely disputed annexation of the territory in March 2014. 
  
 Similar allegations of Russian military involvement have been made about the current conflict in eastern Ukraine, with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk recently saying his forces are fighting not with local militants, but “with the Russian regular army.” 
  
 Russian officials have denied the claims, saying the fighting is between what it calls a fascist government in Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists. Last week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the Russian government would “continue actively facilitating a peaceful settlement” to the conflict. 
  
 But some Western leaders continue to slam Putin. On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Putin was acting like a “mid-20th century tyrant.” 
  
 Hammond told Sky News that Russia’s behavior was “outrageous and outdated” and warned that Putin will “pay the price for what he is doing in Ukraine.” 
  
 Sketchy peace talks 
  
 The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France spoke by phone over the weekend and planned a face-to-face meeting Wednesday in Belarus. 
  
 But even that gathering, which could be a significant meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, isn’t set in stone. 
  
 “We are planning for Wednesday if we succeed in settling the various points that we have discussed so intensively over these last days,” Putin said Sunday. 
  
 The big challenge facing Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and French President Francois Hollande is whether they can reach a peace agreement that will stick. 
  
 A peace agreement was signed in September in Minsk, Belarus. It called for a drawback of heavy weapons, self-rule in the eastern regions and a buffer zone to be set up along the Russia-Ukraine border. 
  
 But the agreement quickly disintegrated, and the violence continued. 
  
 The new plan envisions a much broader demilitarized zone to run along the current front lines. 
  
 All the while, the crisis in Ukraine, which stemmed from a trade agreement, has killed more than 5,000 people, including many civilians. 
  
 At least 224 civilians were killed in the final three weeks of January alone, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights said. 
  
 Explosion rattles facility in Donetsk 
  
 On Sunday, a strong explosion rocked what the website for the city of Donetsk referred to as a chemical goods plant. 
  
 However, Dmytro Yarosh, a Ukrainian lawmaker and Right Sector battalion commander, wrote on Facebook that Ukrainian artillery hit a warehouse containing BM-21 GRAD rocket launchers. On Monday, a European diplomat echoed the claim, telling CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh that the facility was probably an arms depot or factory in a separatist-held area of Donetsk. 
  
 Buildings in the area were damaged in the Sunday blast, including homes, but no casualties have been reported. 
  
 Eduard Basurin, deputy defense minister of the rebel Donetsk People’s Republic, accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack that caused the explosion. 
  
 The Ukrainian Defense Ministry wouldn’t say if the blast was the result of an attack by its military. |||||Summary:
– To arm or not to arm Ukraine is the question—and although the US and Germany may not agree on the answer to that question, for now they're presenting a unified front in finding a solution to Ukraine's conflict with Russia. President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a joint press conference this morning at the White House, declaring that Russian aggression against Ukraine has only strengthened the resolve of Europe and the US to work toward a resolution, the AP reports. "We are in absolute agreement that the 21st century cannot have us stand idle and allow the borders of Europe to be redrawn by the barrel of a gun," Obama said, per USA Today. The sticking point between the two countries lies in what Obama calls "tactical disagreements": whether or not to send lethal aid to Ukraine. The US has so far only provided Ukraine with non-lethal assistance. Merkel—who, along with French President Francois Hollande, met with Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko last week and is scheduled to meet with them again Wednesday—doesn't believe arming Ukraine is wise. Although Obama noted that Putin has "violated just about every commitment" in striving for a peaceful solution, Merkel said the "progress that Ukraine needs cannot be achieved with more weapons," per CNN; she added she fears Russia could increase military action if that happens. Sen. John McCain, however, said that "[Putin] does not want a diplomatic solution, he wants to dominate Ukraine as well as Russia's other neighbors," and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond calls the Russian leader a "mid-20th century tyrant," the Independent notes. The European Union agreed to new sanctions against Russia today, though it decided to delay the sanctions for one week to see if a peace plan can be reached.
Artikel: WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel förklarade i måndags att den ryska aggressionen i Ukraina endast har stärkt USA:s och Europas enighet, då de vägde utsikterna att återuppliva en svårfångad fredsplan för att få slut på konflikten. Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel talar under en gemensam nyhetskonferens med president Barack Obama i Vita husets östra rum i Washington måndagen den 9 februari 2015. Ledarna förväntades... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel går in tillsammans för att börja sin gemensamma nyhetskonferens i östra rummet i Vita huset i Washington, måndag 9 februari 2015. Ledarna var... (Associated Press) Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel, höger, hälsas av Office of the Chief of the Protocol, ambassadör Peter A. Selfridge, vänster, vid hennes ankomst till västra flygeln i Vita huset i Washington, måndag,... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama talar under en gemensam nyhetskonferens med den tyska förbundskanslern Angela Merkel i östra rummet i Vita huset i Washington, måndag, 9 februari 2015. Ledarna förväntades... (Förenade Pressen) President Barack Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel delta i en gemensam nyhetskonferens i Vita husets östra rum i Washington måndagen den 9 februari 2015. Ledarna förväntades... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama lyssnar när Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel talar under deras gemensamma nyhetskonferens i östra rummet i Vita huset i Washington, måndag 9 februari 2015. Ledarna förväntades... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama pausar under sin gemensamma nyhetskonferens med den tyska förbundskanslern Angela Merkel i östra rummet i Vita huset i Washington, måndagen den 9 februari 2015. Ledarna förväntades... (Associated Press) Ändå höll Obama öppet utsikterna att om en ny diplomatiomgång denna vecka misslyckas, kunde USA skicka Ukrainas belägrade militära försvarsvapen. Presidenten sa att medan han ännu inte har fattat ett beslut om dödlig hjälp, överväger hans team "om det finns ytterligare saker vi kan göra för att hjälpa Ukraina att stärka sitt försvar mot ryska aggressioner." Merkel och andra europeiska ledare motsätter sig med kraft att beväpna Ukraina, delvis av rädsla för att utlösa ett proxykrig med Ryssland. USA och Europa har i stort sett varit överens om sitt svar på konflikten mellan Ryssland och Ukraina, vilket väcker förhoppningar om att en offentlig splittring över dödligt bistånd är en taktik för att få ryska Vladimir Putin att gå med på en fredsplan. Under en gemensam nyhetskonferens i Vita huset med Obama bekräftade Merkel att hon inte ser någon militär lösning på striderna i östra Ukraina. Hon tillade dock att oavsett vad Obama beslutar kommer "alliansen mellan USA och Europa att fortsätta att bestå, att fortsätta att vara solid." Merkel och Frankrikes president Francois Hollande träffade Putin och Ukrainas ledare förra veckan och tillkännagav ett nytt toppmöte för onsdagen i Minsk. Förenta staterna var inte vid förhandlingsbordet förra veckan, och kommer inte heller att delta i onsdagens samtal. Merkel, som har den kanske mest produktiva relationen med Putin av någon västlig ledare, sade att det var avgörande att nå en diplomatisk överenskommelse för att bevara freden i Europa. "Jag själv skulle faktiskt inte kunna leva utan att ha gjort detta försök", sade hon genom en översättare. Mer än 5 300 människor har dödats sedan striderna i östra Ukraina inleddes i april, enligt en FN-räkning. Blodsutgjutelsen har ökat markant under de senaste två veckorna, vilket utlöst både den nya diplomatiska manövern och Obamas omvärdering av att skicka Ukraina defensivt militärt bistånd. Ordföranden angav inte hur snabbt han skulle fatta beslut om att eventuellt öka den militära hjälpen till Ukraina, och han angav inte heller om det fanns någon särskild utveckling som skulle kunna utlösa detta steg. »Den åtgärd, genom vilken jag fattar dessa beslut, är det mera sannolikt att vara verksamt än icke», sade han. USA har hittills begränsat sitt militära bistånd till icke-dödlig utrustning, inklusive gasmasker och radarteknik för att upptäcka inkommande eld. Om Obama godkänner dödlig hjälp kunde USA skicka Ukrainas pansarvärnsrobotar, såsom Javelins vapensystem, tillsammans med pansarfordon. USA och Europa har i stor utsträckning riktat sina straffåtgärder mot Ryssland på flera omgångar av ekonomiska sanktioner. Sanktionerna, tillsammans med de fallande oljepriserna, har orsakat betydande skador på Rysslands ekonomi. Europeiska unionen beslutade i måndags att tillfälligt vänta med att beordra fler sanktioner mot ryssar och ukrainska separatister i väntan på resultatet av fredssamtalen. Detaljer om de förslag som diskuteras mellan Ryssland, Ukraina, Tyskland och Frankrike har inte avslöjats, men de viktigaste punkterna har framkommit i ledarnas kommentarer nyligen. Den ena är att genomdriva ett fredsavtal. Ukrainas president Petro Porosjenko har uttryckt motstånd mot alla fredsbevarande styrkor, vilket uppenbarligen återspeglar oron för att sända ryska fredsbevarande trupper till östra Ukraina skulle kunna leda till en de facto ockupation. Nyckeln till en verklig lösning är dock någon mekanism för att övervaka gränsen mellan Ukraina och Ryssland för att se till att Ryssland inte skickar trupper eller utrustning till separatisterna. Ukrainas tjänstemän skulle låta Organisationen för säkerhet och samarbete i Europa genomföra sådan övervakning. De östra regionernas status är fortfarande omtvistad. Ukraina antog förra året en lag som föreslog vad man kallade betydande autonomi för öst, men rebeller avfärdade det som vagt och meningslöst. Ryssland har drivit på för "federalisering" av Ukraina, vilket förmodligen skulle ge öst betydande självständighet, men ukrainska myndigheter motsätter sig detta. Obama och Merkel diskuterade även den USA-ledda militära kampanjen mot Islamiska statens militanter och de pågående kärnvapenförhandlingarna med Iran. USA och Tyskland diskuterar, tillsammans med sina förhandlingspartner, med Iran riktlinjerna för ett ramavtal inför en deadline i slutet av mars. Förhandlingarna har förlängts tidigare. Obama sade i måndags att han inte tror att en förlängning skulle vara "nyttig" om inte Iran kan gå med på grunddragen i en överenskommelse. "De borde kunna komma till ja", sa Obama. "Men vi vet inte om det kommer att hända." _ Följ Julie Pace på http://twitter.com/jpaceDC .. .. nära president Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel presenterade en enad front mot Ryssland i samtal i Vita huset, säger att de skulle fortsätta att sätta upp diplomatiska och ekonomiska påtryckningar för att få Ryssland att dra sig tillbaka från Ukraina. VPC:s president Obama lyssnar på Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel under en gemensam nyhetskonferens i Vita husets östra rum måndag. Obama och Merkel träffades i Washington för att diskutera en mängd olika frågor, bland annat Ukraina, Ryssland, Iran, Afghanistan, terrorismbekämpning, internationell handel och det kommande G7-toppmötet i juni 2015. EPA/MICHAEL KAPPELER ORG XMIT: FAX202 (Foto: MICHAEL KAPPELER, EPA) WASHINGTON — President Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel presenterade en enad front mot Ryssland i samtal i Vita huset måndag, säger att de skulle fortsätta att sätta upp diplomatiska och ekonomiska påtryckningar för att få Ryssland att dra sig tillbaka från Ukraina. Det fanns tecken på oenighet om vilken strategi som skulle kunna vara om dessa ansträngningar misslyckas, men båda ledarna höll kvar karaktären av dessa meningsskiljaktigheter bakom stängda dörrar. Vid en gemensam presskonferens efter deras morgonmöte i Ovala kontoret, Obama sade att han var "mycket uppmuntrad om i vilken utsträckning vi har kunnat upprätthålla amerikansk-europeisk enighet i denna fråga." "Vi är helt överens om att 2000-talet inte kan låta oss stå overksamma och tillåta att Europas gränser dras om av pipan av en pistol", sade Obama. Men då föreslog han också att det kan uppstå "taktiska meningsskiljaktigheter" om vad som händer om diplomatiska insatser misslyckas. Dessa meningsskiljaktigheter bottnar i möjligheten till militärt bistånd till Ukraina för att avvärja proryska separatister. "Möjligheten av dödliga defensiva vapen är en av de alternativ som undersöks," Obama sade. Merkel motsätter sig den kursen. Både Obama och Merkel sade att inget beslut har fattats om militära alternativ. "Jag har alltid sagt att jag inte ser någon militär lösning i den här konflikten, men vi måste lägga alla våra ansträngningar bakom en diplomatisk lösning", sade Merkel och talade tyska. "Men om man vid en viss tidpunkt måste säga att en framgång inte är möjlig, även om man lägger ner allt arbete på det, då måste USA och Europa sitta tillsammans och försöka utforska ytterligare möjligheter, vad man kan göra." Mötet kommer mitt i en virvelvind av flygplansdiplomati bland Natomakterna Ukraina och Ryssland. I och med samtalen i München och Kiev som förra veckan inte kunde skapa en diplomatisk lösning, tillkännagav de båda sidorna ett nytt toppmöte onsdag i Minsk. Men även andra frågor stod på dagordningen. Obama fokuserade till stor del på säkerhetsfrågor: Ukraina, Afghanistan, Iran och Islamiska staten. Merkel inledde sina anmärkningar med att tala om handel och ekonomi. De två ledarna diskuterade också vad som har blivit en öm punkt i deras relation: Uppenbarelser som USA:s nationella säkerhetsbyrå spionerade på Merkel som en del av en omfattande elektronisk övervakning som avslöjades av den tidigare NSA-entreprenören Edward Snowden. Merkel erkände sekretessen, men sa att informationen från den amerikanska spionbyrån var oumbärlig. "Om vi tittar på terroristhotets rena dimension är vi mer än medvetna om att vi måste samarbeta mycket nära", sade hon. Obama sa att frågan var komplicerad. "Det råder ingen tvekan om att Snowdens avslöjanden skadade intryck av tyskar med avseende på USA:s regering och vårt underrättelsesamarbete", sade han. "Och det jag har gjort under det senaste året, ett och ett halvt år, är att systematiskt arbeta igenom några av dessa frågor för att skapa större öppenhet och återställa förtroendet, inte bara för tyskar, utan för våra partner runt om i världen." Obama-Merkel-presskonferensen följde ett morgonmöte i Ovala rummet med vicepresident Joe Biden, utrikesminister John Kerry, nationell säkerhetsrådgivare Susan Rice och biträdande nationell säkerhetsrådgivare Ben Rhodes. På Merkels sida stod hennes utrikespolitiske rådgivare, Christoph Heusgen, ekonomisk rådgivare Lars-Hendrik Roeller och talesman Steffen Seibert Även på schemat måndag: en "arbetslunch" med Obama, Merkel och Biden. Följ @gregorykorte på Twitter. Läs eller dela denna historia: http://usat.ly/1Dct5MC <unk> <unk> Story belyser USA:s president Barack Obama säger att han ännu inte har bestämt sig för om han ska skicka vapen till Ukraina Tysklands Angela Merkel: "Jag har alltid sagt att jag inte ser någon militär lösning på denna konflikt" Ledare planerar möjliga samtal i Vitryssland onsdag (CNN) Skulle skicka vapen till Ukraina blockera Ryssland från att ta tag i territorium och stävja våld i den instabila regionen? Eller skulle det ge upphov till ytterligare konflikter och destabilisera Europa? Det är en nyckelfråga som ledare i västvärlden väger. Och även när de försökte presentera en enad front vid en pressbriefing måndag, var det tydligt att det är ett område där USA:s president Barack Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel inte riktigt är överens. Obama sade att han ännu inte har bestämt sig för om han ska skicka vapen till ukrainska styrkor som försvarar sitt land mot ryskstödda separatister, och han har inte satt en deadline för när han ska göra det. Men han insisterar på att det är ett alternativ som bör övervägas om diplomatin misslyckas. Eventuella vapen USA skickar skulle inte vara tänkt att hjälpa Ukraina besegra den ryska armén i en allomfattande strid, sade Obama. "Vårt mål har inte varit att Ukraina skall vara rustat att genomföra offensiva operationer", sade han, "utan att helt enkelt försvara sig." Eftersom Tysklands, Frankrikes, Ukrainas och Rysslands ledare gick med på att träffas i Vitryssland för att försöka förhandla fram en fredsöverenskommelse, framträdde Hammond i Sky News för att fördöma Kremls beteende som "upprörande och föråldrat". USA överväger åtgärder för att tillhandahålla ytterligare förnödenheter och vapen till regeringen i Ukraina - vilket Ryssland har anklagats för att göra med sekteristiska rebeller - men EU har förnekat uppkomsten av en transatlantisk spricka i frågan. Efter att ha träffat Ukrainas president Petro Porosjenko och den ryske utrikesministern Sergej Lavrov sade EU:s utrikespolitiska chef Federica Mogherini att hon respekterade den interna debatten i ämnet i USA och "det är upp till dem att diskutera och besluta". Försvarsminister Philip Hammond tillsammans med USA:s utrikesminister John Kerry "Vi är enade när det gäller stöd till Ukraina ... vi är enade när det gäller ekonomiska påtryckningar och vi är enade också om ... behovet av att ha en politisk dialog," sade hon. Hammond sade ett beslut om huruvida Storbritannien också skulle hjälpa till att beväpna den ukrainska militären var under översyn, men krävde att Ryssland skulle dra tillbaka sina trupper inte bara från Donetsk utan även från Krim, som Putin annekterade i mars förra året. — Få det inte att låta så där, är en upprörande sak för oss att kräva [av herr Putin], sade ministern till Sky News' Murnaghan-program. “Den här mannen har skickat trupper över en internationell gräns och ockuperat ett annat lands territorium under 2000-talet agerar som någon mitten av 1900-talet tyrann. — Vi uppför oss inte så. Civiliserade nationer beter sig inte så på 2000-talet. Vi lever i ett regelbaserat samhälle. Vi vill att det ryska folket ska vara en del av det internationella samfundet. ”Vi vill att Ryssland ska få åtnjuta den ekonomiska tillväxt och den stigande levnadsstandard som människor i övriga Europa åtnjuter och vi ser ingen anledning att tolerera denna typ av upprörande och föråldrade beteende från Kreml.” Efter ett gemensamt telefonsamtal i dag med Tysklands kansler Angela Merkel, Frankrikes president Francois Hollande, Porosjenko och Vladimir Putin gick de fyra med på samtal i Minsk som kommer att syfta till att enas om en omedelbar vapenvila. Den franske försvarsministern Jean-Yves Le Drian talade i fransk TV och sade att han fruktade en "dramatisk spiral" i våld om dialogen med Moskva inte lyckades. Hammond avfärdade ett tidigare påstående från den franske herr Hollande om att de pågående samtalen var Ukrainas sista chans till fred – och konstaterade att en militär konflikt redan är på gång. Men han höll med om att en politisk lösning var det enda sättet att få ett slut på krisen och tillade att Kreml, Vladimir Putin, måste förstå att han kommer att få betala ett politiskt och ekonomiskt pris för det han gör i Ukraina. Minst 5 000 personer har dödats i östra Ukraina sedan april 2014, då landets ryskstödde president Viktor Janukovitj tvingades ut under massgatuprotester i Kiev. MUNICH (AP) – Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel sade lördagen att det är osäkert om en uppsjö av diplomati som syftar till att lösa krisen i Ukraina kommer att lyckas. Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel håller sitt tal vid 51:an. Münchens säkerhetskonferens i München, Tyskland, lördagen den 7 februari 2015. Konferensen om säkerhetspolitik äger rum från den 6 februari 2015... (Associated Press) USA:s utrikesminister John Kerry anländer till 51:an. Münchens säkerhetskonferens i München, Tyskland, lördagen den 7 februari 2015. Konferensen om säkerhetspolitik äger rum från 6 februari 2015 till... (Associated Press) Rysslands president Vladimir Putin, center, Frankrikes president Francois Hollande, höger, och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel poserar för ett foto under deras möte i Kreml i Moskva, Ryssland, fredag,... (Associated Press) Ukrainas president Petro Porosjenko, höger, omfamnar USA: s vicepresident Joe Biden under 51. Säkerhetskonferens München, Tyskland, lördagen den 7 februari 2015. Konferensen om säkerhetspolitik tar... (Associated Press) Rysslands president Vladimir Putin, höger, och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel poserar för ett foto inför deras och Frankrikes president Francois Hollandes möte i Kreml i Moskva, Ryssland, fredag,... (Associated Press) Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel gester under sitt tal på 51:an. Münchens säkerhetskonferens i München, Tyskland, lördagen den 7 februari 2015. Konferensen om säkerhetspolitik äger rum från den 6 februari,... (Associated Press) Ukrainas president Petro Porosjenko, höger, och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel anländer till 51:an. Säkerhetskonferens i München, Tyskland, lördagen den 7 februari 2015. Konferensen om säkerhetspolitik tar... (Associated Press) Merkel insisterade efter hemkomsten från samtalen i Moskva föregående kväll på att "denna kris inte kan lösas med militära medel" och "väsentliga steg" behövs för att "fylla med livet" en mycket kränkt septemberfredsaffär. Vid Münchens säkerhetskonferens sade Merkel om de senaste fredssträvandena att "det är osäkert om de kommer att bli framgångsrika." Emellertid sade hon, att hon och den franske presidenten Francois Hollande, som följde med henne till Kiev på torsdag och Moskva på fredag, anser att det är "i varje fall värt att göra detta försök". "Vi har ännu inte haft tillräckligt goda erfarenheter" med överenskommelser som har gjorts hedras på grund, sade hon, men att svaret på det kan inte vara att inte söka avtal. Merkel sade också att hon är "mycket tveksam" om klokheten i att leverera vapen till Ukraina, vilket understryker tvivel i Europa om ett drag som förespråkas av vissa i USA:s Merkels tal närvarade den ukrainske presidenten Petro Porosjenko och USA:s vicepresident Joe Biden. Hon planerade att hålla ett trevägsmöte med båda på åskådarplats. Rysslands utrikesminister Sergej Lavrov och USA:s utrikesminister John Kerry deltar också i konferensen. Merkel, Hollande och Porosjenko planerar att på söndagen överlägga per telefon med den ryske presidenten Vladimir Putin. Putins talesman, Dmitrij Peskov, sade efter fredagens samtal att ansträngningarna gick framåt. "Arbetet pågår för närvarande med att utarbeta texten till ett eventuellt gemensamt dokument om genomförandet av Minskavtalet, vilket skulle omfatta förslagen från Ukrainas president och president Putin", sade Peskov. MOSCOW — När det dödliga våldet i Ukraina stiger upp, så gör också den internationella sorlet för att finna en lösning. President Barack Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel träffades för att diskutera krisen måndagen i Washington, medan Europeiska unionen i Bryssel, Belgien, enades om nya sanktioner mot proryska separatister i Ukraina och deras anhängare. I en gemensam nyhetskonferens med Merkel, Obama sade att Ryssland har “avvikit nästan varje åtagande” det gjorde i September Minsk avtalet avsåg att bidra till att avsluta striderna i Ukraina. “I stället för att dra sig tillbaka från östra Ukraina fortsätter ryska styrkor att verka där, utbilda separatister och hjälpa till att samordna attacker,” sade han. Men organisationen valde att skjuta upp genomförandet av sanktionerna i en vecka, för att ge fler möjligheter till en förhandlingslösning att få fäste, berättade EU:s utrikespolitiske chef Federica Mogherini för reportrar. Den högsta prioriteringen, sade hon, “är att förbättra saker på marken,” där eskalerande strider tar ut en tribut på civila. I Washington förväntades Obama och Merkel diskutera förslag om att skicka dödlig hjälp till den ukrainska militären. Merkel säger att det är en dålig idé. – De framsteg som Ukraina behöver kan inte uppnås med fler vapen, sade hon. – Jag hyser allvarliga tvivel om giltigheten av denna punkt. Merkel sade att om väst skickar vapen till Ukraina, skulle Ryssland kunna öka sitt engagemang i konflikten ytterligare och eventuellt införa sitt flygvapen i kampen. Men den amerikanske senaten John McCain, som stöder beväpningen av Ukraina, sade att det är en ”hård verklighet” att Rysslands militär stöder proryska separatistrebeller i Ukraina. Han sade Rysslands president Vladimir Putin “vill inte ha en diplomatisk lösning, han vill dominera Ukraina samt Rysslands andra grannar.” Krisen kommer nästan ett år efter ukrainska tjänstemän och den amerikanska regeringen anklagade Ryssland för att översvämma Krim med trupper inför dess allmänt omstridda annektering av territoriet i mars 2014. Liknande anklagelser om rysk militär inblandning har framförts om den nuvarande konflikten i östra Ukraina, med Ukrainas premiärminister Arsenij Yatsenyuk nyligen säga sina styrkor strider inte med lokala militanter, utan “med den ryska reguljära armén.” Ryska tjänstemän har förnekat påståendena, säger striderna är mellan vad man kallar en fascistisk regering i Ukraina och proryska separatister. Förra veckan, utrikesminister Alexander Lukasjevitj sade att den ryska regeringen skulle “fortsätta att aktivt underlätta en fredlig lösning” av konflikten. Men vissa ledare i västvärlden fortsätter att slå Putin. På söndagen sade den brittiske utrikesministern Philip Hammond att Putin agerade som en “mitten av 1900-talets tyrann.” Hammond berättade för Sky News att Rysslands beteende var “upprört och föråldrat” och varnade för att Putin kommer “att betala priset för vad han gör i Ukraina.” Sketchy fredssamtal Ledarna för Ryssland, Ukraina, Tyskland och Frankrike talade via telefon under helgen och planerade ett möte ansikte mot ansikte onsdag i Vitryssland. Men inte ens denna sammankomst, som skulle kunna vara ett viktigt möte mellan Putin och Ukrainas president Petro Porosjenko, är stensatt. “Vi planerar för onsdag om vi lyckas lösa de olika punkter som vi har diskuterat så intensivt under de senaste dagarna,” Putin sade söndag. Den stora utmaning som Putin, Porosjenko, Merkel och den franske presidenten Francois Hollande står inför är om de kan nå ett fredsavtal som kommer att hålla. Ett fredsavtal undertecknades i september i Minsk, Vitryssland. Parlamentet kräver att det inrättas en nackdel med tunga vapen, ett självstyre i de östra regionerna och en buffertzon längs gränsen mellan Ryssland och Ukraina. Men avtalet upplöstes snabbt, och våldet fortsatte. Den nya planen föreställer sig en mycket bredare demilitariserad zon att löpa längs de nuvarande frontlinjerna. Krisen i Ukraina, som härrörde från ett handelsavtal, har hela tiden dödat mer än 5 000 människor, däribland många civila. Åtminstone 224 civila dödades under de sista tre veckorna i januari ensam, sade FN:s högkommissarie för mänskliga rättigheter. Explosion skramlar anläggning i Donetsk På söndag gungade en kraftig explosion vad webbplatsen för staden Donetsk kallade en kemisk godsfabrik. Dock skrev Dmytro Yarosh, en ukrainsk lagstiftare och bataljonschef för Högersektor, på Facebook att ukrainskt artilleri träffade ett lager innehållande BM-21 GRAD raketgevär. I måndags gav en europeisk diplomat uttryck för påståendet och berättade för CNN:s Nick Paton Walsh att anläggningen troligen var en vapendepå eller fabrik i ett separatistiskt område i Donetsk. Byggnader i området skadades i söndagssprängningen, inklusive bostäder, men inga dödsoffer har rapporterats. Eduard Basurin, biträdande försvarsminister i Folkrepubliken Donetsk, anklagade Ukraina för att ha utfört ett attentat som orsakade explosionen. Ukrainas försvarsministerium skulle inte säga om explosionen var resultatet av en attack av dess militär. ••••••••••••••••••••••
Article: WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared on Monday that Russian aggression in Ukraine has only strengthened the unity of the United States and Europe, as they weighed the prospect of reviving an elusive peace plan to end the conflict. German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a joint news conference with President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Monday, February 9, 2015. The leaders were expected... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel enter together to begin their joint news conference in the eastern room of the White House in Washington, Monday, February 9, 2015. The leaders were... (Associated Press) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, greeted by the Office of the Chief of the Protocol, Ambassador Peter A. Selfridge, left, upon her arrival at the Western Wing of the White House in Washington, Monday,... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the eastern room of the White House in Washington, Monday, February 9, 2015. The leaders were expected... (United Press) President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to attend a joint news conference in the White House East Room in Washington on Monday, February 9, 2015. The leaders were expected... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama listens as German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during their joint news conference in the eastern room of the White House in Washington, Monday, February 9, 2015. The leaders were expected... (Associated Press) President Barack Obama pauses during his joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the eastern room of the White House in Washington, Monday, February 9, 2015. The leaders were expected... (Associated Press) Yet Obama openly kept the prospect that if a new diplomatic round this week fails, the United States could send Ukraine's besieged military defense weapon. The president said that while he has not yet made a decision on lethal aid, his team is considering "if there are further things we can do to help Ukraine strengthen its defence against Russian aggressions." Merkel and other European leaders strongly oppose arming Ukraine, partly out of fear of triggering a proxy war with Russia. The United States and Europe have largely agreed on their response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, raising hopes that a public split over lethal aid is a tactic to get Russian Vladimir Putin to agree to a peace plan. During a joint White House news conference with Obama, Merkel confirmed that she sees no military solution to the fighting in eastern Ukraine. However, she added that no matter what Obama decides, "the alliance between the United States and Europe will continue to persist, to remain solid." Merkel and French President Francois Hollande met Putin and Ukraine leaders last week and announced a new summit for Wednesday in Minsk. The United States was not at the negotiating table last week, nor will it participate in Wednesday's talks. Merkel, who has perhaps the most productive relationship with Putin by some Western leader, said it was crucial to reach a diplomatic agreement to preserve peace in Europe. "I myself would not actually be able to live without having made this attempt," she said through a translator. More than 5,300 people have been killed since fighting in eastern Ukraine began in April, according to a United Nations count. The bloodshed has increased markedly over the past two weeks, triggering both the new diplomatic maneuver and Obama's re-evaluation of sending Ukraine defensive military aid. The President did not indicate how quickly he would decide to increase possibly military aid to Ukraine, nor did he indicate whether there was any particular development that could trigger this step. "The measure by which I make these decisions, it is more likely to be effective than not," he said. The United States has so far limited its military assistance to non-lethal equipment, including gas masks and radar technology to detect incoming fire. If Obama approves of lethal aid, the United States could send Ukraine's anti-tank missiles, such as Javelin's weapons system, along with armoured vehicles. The US and Europe have largely targeted their punitive measures against Russia on several sets of economic sanctions. The sanctions, along with the falling oil prices, have caused significant damage to Russia's economy. The European Union decided on Monday to temporarily delay ordering further sanctions against Russians and Ukrainian separatists pending the outcome of the peace talks. Details of the proposals being discussed between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France have not been revealed, but the main points have emerged from recent comments by the leaders. One is to enforce a peace agreement. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has expressed opposition to all peacekeeping forces, which obviously reflects concerns about sending Russian peacekeeping troops to eastern Ukraine could lead to a de facto occupation. However, the key to a real solution is some mechanism to monitor the Ukraine-Russia border to ensure that Russia does not send troops or equipment to the separatists. Ukrainian officials would allow the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to carry out such monitoring. The status of the eastern regions remains disputed. Ukraine passed a law last year proposing what was called significant autonomy for the East, but rebels dismissed it as vague and meaningless. Russia has pushed for "federalisation" of Ukraine, which would probably give the East considerable independence, but Ukrainian authorities oppose this. Obama and Merkel also discussed the US-led military campaign against Islamic State militants and the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. The United States and Germany, together with their negotiating partners, are discussing with Iran the guidelines for a framework agreement with a view to a deadline at the end of March. Negotiations have been extended in the past. Obama said on Monday that he does not believe an extension would be "useful" unless Iran can agree to the basics of an agreement. "They should be able to come to yes," Obama said. "But we don't know if that's going to happen." _ Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC .. near President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a united front against Russia in talks at the White House, saying they would continue to put up diplomatic and economic pressure to get Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. VPC President Obama listens to Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint news conference in the White House East Room Monday. Obama and Merkel met in Washington to discuss a variety of issues, including Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, international trade and the upcoming G7 summit in June 2015. EPA/MICHAEL KAPPELER ORG XMIT: FAX202 (Photo: MICHAEL KAPPELER, EPA) WASHINGTON — President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a united front against Russia in talks at the White House Monday, saying they would continue to put up diplomatic and economic pressure to get Russia to withdraw from Ukraine. There were signs of disagreement as to what strategy could be if these efforts failed, but both leaders kept the nature of these differences behind closed doors. At a joint press conference following their morning meeting in the Oval Office, Obama said he was "very encouraged about the extent to which we have been able to maintain American-European unity on this issue." "We fully agree that the 21st century cannot let us stand idly by and allow Europe's borders to be redrawn by the barrel of a gun," Obama said. But then he also suggested that there may be "tactical differences" about what happens if diplomatic efforts fail. These differences stem from the possibility of military assistance to Ukraine to ward off pro-Russian separatists. "The possibility of deadly defensive weapons is one of the options being investigated," Obama said. Merkel opposes that course. Both Obama and Merkel said that no decision has been made on military options. "I've always said I don't see a military solution in this conflict, but we have to put all our efforts behind a diplomatic solution," said Merkel and spoke German. "But if you have to say at a certain point that success is not possible, even if you put all the work into it, then the United States and Europe must sit together and try to explore further opportunities, what you can do." The meeting comes in the midst of a whirlwind of aircraft diplomacy among the NATO powers of Ukraine and Russia. With the talks in Munich and Kiev which last week could not create a diplomatic solution, the two sides announced a new summit on Wednesday in Minsk. But other issues were also on the agenda. Obama largely focused on security issues: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iran and the Islamic State. Merkel began his remarks by talking about trade and economics. The two leaders also discussed what has become a sore point in their relationship: Revelations that the U.S. National Security Bureau spied on Merkel as part of a comprehensive electronic surveillance revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Merkel admitted to secrecy, but said the information from the American spy agency was indispensable. "If we look at the sheer dimension of the terrorist threat, we are more than aware that we need to cooperate very closely," she said. Obama said the issue was complicated. "There is no doubt that Snowden's revelations damaged impressions of Germans with regard to the U.S. government and our intelligence cooperation," he said. "And what I've done over the past year, a year and a half, is to systematically work through some of these issues in order to create greater transparency and restore confidence, not only for Germans, but for our partners around the world." The Obama-Merkel press conference followed a morning meeting in the Oval Office with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Assistant National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes. On Merkel's side, her foreign policy adviser, Christoph Heusgen, financial advisor Lars-Hendrik Roeller and spokesman Steffen Seibert Also on the schedule Monday: a "working lunch" with Obama, Merkel and Biden. Follow @gregorykorte on Twitter. Read or share this story: http://usat.ly/1Dct5MC <unk> <unk> Story highlights U.S. President Barack Obama says he has yet to decide whether to send weapons to Ukraine Germany's Angela Merkel: "I have always said I do not see any military solution to this conflict" Leaders plan possible talks in Belarus Wednesday (CNN) Would send weapons to Ukraine block Russia from grabbing territory and curbing violence in the unstable region? Or would it create further conflicts and destabilise Europe? It is a key issue that Western leaders weigh. And even when they tried to present a united front at a press briefing Monday, it was clear that it is an area where US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel do not really agree. Obama said he has not yet decided whether to send weapons to Ukrainian forces defending his country against Russian-backed separatists, and he has not set a deadline for when to do so. But he insists that it is an option that should be considered if diplomacy fails. Any weapons the United States sends would not be meant to help Ukraine defeat the Russian army in an all-embracing battle, Obama said. "Our goal has not been for Ukraine to be equipped to conduct offensive operations," he said, "but simply to defend itself." Since the leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia agreed to meet in Belarus to try to negotiate a peace agreement, Hammond appeared in Sky News to condemn the Kremlin's behaviour as "outrageous and obsolete". The United States is considering measures to provide additional supplies and weapons to the government of Ukraine - as Russia has been accused of dealing with sectarian rebels - but the EU has denied the emergence of a transatlantic rift on the issue. After meeting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she respected the internal debate on the subject in the United States and "it is up to them to discuss and decide". Defence Minister Philip Hammond along with US Secretary of State John Kerry "We are united in terms of support to Ukraine ... we are united in terms of economic pressure and we are also united on ... the need to have a political dialogue," she said. Hammond said a decision as to whether Britain would also help arm the Ukrainian military was under review, but demanded that Russia withdraw its troops not only from Donetsk but also from Crimea, which Putin annexed last March. — Don’t make it sound like that, is an outrageous thing for us to demand [by Mr Putin], Minister told Sky News’ Murnaghan program. “This man has sent troops across an international border and occupied the territory of another country in the 21st century acting as some mid-20th century tyrant. “We don’t behave like that. Civilised nations don't behave like that in the 21st century. We live in a rule-based society. We want the Russian people to be part of the international community. ‘We want Russia to enjoy the economic growth and rising standard of living enjoyed by people in the rest of Europe and we see no reason to tolerate this kind of outrageous and outdated behaviour from the Kremlin.’ After a joint telephone conversation today with Chancellor Merkel of Germany, President Francois Hollande, Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin, the four agreed to talks in Minsk which will aim to agree on an immediate ceasefire. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke on French television saying he feared a "dramatic spiral" in violence if dialogue with Moscow failed. Hammond dismissed an earlier claim by French Mr Hollande that the ongoing talks were Ukraine's last chance for peace – and noted that a military conflict is already underway. But he agreed that a political solution was the only way to end the crisis and added that the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, must understand that he will pay a political and economic price for what he is doing in Ukraine. At least 5,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since April 2014, when the country's Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovich was forced out during mass street protests in Kiev. MUNICH (AP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that it is uncertain whether a plethora of diplomacy aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine will succeed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives her speech at 51. Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday 7 February 2015. The Security Policy Conference takes place from February 6, 2015... (Associated Press) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at the 51. Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday 7 February 2015. The Security Policy Conference takes place from February 6, 2015 to... (Associated Press) Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, French President Francois Hollande, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses for a photo during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday,... (Associated Press) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, embraces U.S. Vice President Joe Biden under 51. Security conference Munich, Germany, Saturday 7 February 2015. The Conference on Security Policy takes... (Associated Press) Russia's President Vladimir Putin, right, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel poses for a photo before their and France's President Francois Hollande's meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday,... (Associated Press) Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures during her speech on the 51st. Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday 7 February 2015. The Security Policy Conference takes place from 6 February,... (Associated Press) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at 51. Security conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday 7 February 2015. The conference on security policy takes... (Associated Press) Merkel insisted after returning from the Moscow talks the previous night that "this crisis cannot be solved by military means" and "substantial steps" are needed to "fill life" a very violated September peace affair. At the Munich Security Conference, Merkel said of the recent peace efforts that "it is uncertain whether they will be successful." However, she said that she and French President Francois Hollande, who accompanied her to Kiev on Thursday and Moscow on Friday, consider it "at least worth making this attempt". "We have not yet had enough good experience" with agreements that have been made honored on grounds, she said, but that the answer to that cannot be not to seek agreements. Merkel also said that she is "very hesitant" about the wisdom of delivering weapons to Ukraine, underlining doubts in Europe about a move advocated by some in U.S. Merkel's speech attended Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. She planned to hold a three-way meeting with both on the sidelines. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry also participate in the conference. Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko plan to deliberate on Sunday by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said after Friday's talks that efforts were progressing. "The work is currently underway to draft the text of a possible joint document on the implementation of the Minsk Agreement, which would include the proposals of the Ukrainian President and President Putin," said Peskov. MOSCOW — As the deadly violence in Ukraine rises, so does the international murmur to find a solution. President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met to discuss the crisis Monday in Washington, while the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, agreed new sanctions against pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and their supporters. In a joint news conference with Merkel, Obama said that Russia has “absconded almost every commitment” it did in September the Minsk agreement intended to help end the fighting in Ukraine. “Instead of retiring from eastern Ukraine, Russian forces continue to operate there, training separatists and helping coordinate attacks,” he said. But the organisation chose to postpone the implementation of the sanctions for a week, to provide more opportunities for a negotiated solution to take hold," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters. The top priority, she said, “is to improve things on the ground,” where escalating fighting takes out a toll on civilians. In Washington, Obama and Merkel were expected to discuss proposals to send deadly aid to the Ukrainian military. Merkel says it's a bad idea. “The progress Ukraine needs cannot be achieved with more weapons,” she said. I have serious doubts about the validity of this paragraph, and Mr Merkel said that if the West sends arms to Ukraine, Russia could further increase its involvement in the conflict and possibly introduce its air force into the fight. However, US Senate John McCain, who supports the arming of Ukraine, said it is a ‘hard reality' that Russia's military supports pro-Russian separatist rebels in Ukraine. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin “does not want a diplomatic solution, he wants to dominate Ukraine as well as Russia’s other neighbours.” The crisis comes almost a year after Ukrainian officials and the US government accused Russia of flooding Crimea with troops ahead of its widely disputed annexation of the territory in March 2014. Similar allegations of Russian military interference have been made about the current conflict in eastern Ukraine, with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk recently saying his forces are fighting not with local militants, but “with the Russian regular army.” Russian officials have denied the claims, saying the fighting is between what is called a fascist government in Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists. Last week, Foreign Minister Alexander Lukashevich said that the Russian government would “continue actively facilitating a peaceful settlement” of the conflict. But some Western leaders continue to beat Putin. On Sunday, British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond said Putin acted as a “mid 20th century tyrant.” Hammond told Sky News that Russia’s behaviour was “outraged and outmoded” and warned that Putin will “pay the price for what he is doing in Ukraine.” Sketchy peace talks The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France spoke over the weekend and planned a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday in Belarus. But even this assembly, which could be an important meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, is not stoned. “We plan for Wednesday if we manage to resolve the various points that we’ve discussed so intensely over the past few days,” Putin said Sunday. The great challenge facing Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and French President Francois Hollande is whether they can reach a peace agreement that will hold. A peace agreement was signed in September in Minsk, Belarus. Parliament called for the establishment of a disadvantage of heavy weapons, self-government in the eastern regions and a buffer zone along the border between Russia and Ukraine. But the agreement quickly disbanded, and violence continued. The new plan envisions a much wider demilitarised zone to run along the current front lines. The crisis in Ukraine, which stemmed from a trade agreement, has always killed more than 5 000 people, including many civilians. At least 224 civilians were killed in the last three weeks of January alone, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Explosion rattles plant in Donetsk On Sunday, a heavy explosion rocked what the website of the city of Donetsk called a chemical goods factory. However, Dmytro Yarosh, a Ukrainian legislator and battalion commander for Right Sector, wrote on Facebook that Ukrainian artillery hit a warehouse containing BM-21 GRAD rocket launchers. On Monday, a European diplomat voiced the claim and told CNN's Nick Paton Walsh that the facility was probably a weapons depot or factory in a separatist area of Donetsk. Buildings in the area were damaged in the Sunday blast, including housing, but no casualties have been reported. Eduard Basurin, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Donetsk People's Republic, accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack that caused the explosion. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine would not say whether the explosion was the result of an attack by its military. <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk>
– Att beväpna eller inte beväpna Ukraina är frågan – och även om USA och Tyskland kanske inte är överens om svaret på den frågan, så presenterar de nu en enad front för att hitta en lösning på Ukrainas konflikt med Ryssland. President Barack Obama och Tysklands förbundskansler Angela Merkel höll en gemensam presskonferens denna morgon i Vita huset, där de förklarade att den ryska aggressionen mot Ukraina bara har stärkt Europas och USA:s beslutsamhet att arbeta mot en resolution, rapporterar AP. "Vi är helt överens om att 2000-talet inte kan låta oss stå overksamma och låta Europas gränser dras om av pipan av en pistol", sade Obama, per USA Today. Den springande punkten mellan de två länderna ligger i vad Obama kallar "taktiska meningsskiljaktigheter": huruvida man ska skicka dödlig hjälp till Ukraina eller inte. USA har hittills endast gett Ukraina icke-dödligt bistånd. Merkel – som tillsammans med Frankrikes president Francois Hollande träffade Vladimir Putin och Ukrainas president Petro Porosjenko förra veckan och som är planerad att träffa dem igen onsdag – tror inte att det är klokt att beväpna Ukraina. Även Obama noterade att Putin "har brutit nästan varje åtagande" i strävan efter en fredlig lösning, Merkel sade de "framsteg som Ukraina behöver inte kan uppnås med fler vapen," per CNN; hon tillade att hon fruktar att Ryssland skulle kunna öka militära åtgärder om det händer. Sen John McCain sade dock att "[Putin] inte vill ha en diplomatisk lösning, han vill dominera Ukraina liksom Rysslands andra grannar", och den brittiske utrikesministern Philip Hammond kallar den ryske ledaren för en "mitten av 1900-talets tyrann", konstaterar den Oberoende. Europeiska unionen gick i dag med på nya sanktioner mot Ryssland, men beslutade att skjuta upp sanktionerna med en vecka för att se om en fredsplan kan nås.
To arm or not arm Ukraine is the question – and although the United States and Germany may not agree on the answer to that question, they are now presenting a united front to find a solution to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a joint press conference this morning at the White House, explaining that Russian aggression against Ukraine has only strengthened Europe's and the United States' determination to work towards a resolution, reports the AP. "We fully agree that the 21st century cannot let us stand idly by and let Europe's borders be redrawn by the barrel of a gun," Obama said, per USA Today. The crux of the two countries lies in what Obama calls "tactic differences": whether or not to send deadly aid to Ukraine. The United States has so far only provided non-lethal assistance to Ukraine. Merkel – who, together with French President Francois Hollande, met Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko last week and who is scheduled to see them again Wednesday – does not think it wise to arm Ukraine. Although Obama noted that Putin "has broken almost every commitment" in pursuit of a peaceful solution, Merkel said they "progress that Ukraine need not be achieved with more weapons," per CNN; she added that she fears Russia might increase military action if that happens. However, since John McCain said that "[Putin] does not want a diplomatic solution, he wants to dominate Ukraine as well as Russia's other neighbours", and British foreign minister Philip Hammond calls the Russian leader a "mid 20th-century tyrant," notes the Independent. The European Union agreed today to new sanctions against Russia, but decided to postpone the sanctions by one week to see if a peace plan can be reached.