Putin and Poroshenko to meet in Minsk on 26 August

Series Title
Series Details 20.08.14
Publication Date 20/08/2014
Content Type

EurActiv and other news sources reported that Russia and Ukraine announced on the 19 August 2014 that their Presidents would meet together with European Union officials headed by High Representative Catherine Ashton in Belarus's capital of Minsk on 26 August 2014 to discuss their conflict over Ukraine.

The meeting would formally take place within the format Ukraine – EU – 'Eurasian trio' (Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia). The participants would discuss the issues related to the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, energy security and stabilisation of the situation in the Donbas (eastern Ukraine).

This news was announced in the context that heavy fighting has been reported in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine, with street clashes in the centre of the key city of Luhansk. More than 2,000 civilians and combatants had been been killed since April 2014, when Ukraine's government sent troops to put down the rebel uprising, which had been allegedly supported by Russia.

There were also reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would visit Ukraine on 23 August 2014, as part of German attempts to take a wider responsibility on the international stage.

On 24 August, Ukraine marked its independence day with a military march-past in Kyiv intended to send a message of defiance to Russia. However, pro-Moscow rebels countered by parading captured Ukrainian troops through the streets of their main stronghold.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/putin-and-poroshenko-meet-minsk-26-september-307857
Related Links
ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/
ESO: Background information: Council Conclusions on Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 15 August 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-conclusions-on-ukraine-foreign-affairs-council-meeting-brussels-15-august-2014/
ESO: Background information: Ukraine crisis: Military losses climb in war for east / Ukraine crisis: Poroshenko 'to consider aid mission' http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-crisis-military-losses-climb-in-war-for-east-ukraine-crisis-poroshenko-to-consider-aid-mission/
BBC News, 19.08.14: Ukraine street battles in Luhansk as troops advance http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28858542
Deutsche Welle, 19.08.14: Ukraine soldiers advance on separatist Donetsk http://dw.de/p/1CxDW
Ukraine: President: News, 19.08.14: On August 26, meeting in the format Ukraine – EU – 'Eurasian trio' to be held http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/26-serpnya-vidbudetsya-zustrich-u-formati-ukrayina-yes-yevra-33485
EurActiv, 19.08.14: 'Dozens' of refugees, including women and children, killed by rocket fire in Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/dozens-refugees-including-women-and-children-killed-rocket-fire-ukraine-307822
European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/254: President Barroso spoke with President Poroshenko on the phone yesterday and today to discuss the latest events in Ukraine http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-254_en.pdf
Euro|Topics, 20.08.14: Merkel to mediate in Kiev http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER148965-Merkel-to-mediate-in-Kiev
Deustche Welle, 20.08.14: Opinion: Showdown in Minsk http://dw.de/p/1CyBV
EurActiv, 21.08.14: Ukraine tightens the noose on separatists, civilian deaths reported http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/ukraine-tightens-noose-separatists-civilian-deaths-reported-307880
Spiegel Online International, 19.08.14: Battle for Ukraine: An Inside View of the Surreal Donetsk War Zone http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-battle-for-donetsk-reveals-a-resigned-populace-a-986928.html
EurActiv, 22.08.14: Poroshenko talks tough ahead of Putin meeting http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/poroshenko-talks-tough-ahead-putin-meeting-307909
Ukraine: President: News, 21.08.14: President: Ukraine strives for peace http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/31034.html
EurActiv, 22.08.14: What kind of gift will Merkel give Poroshenko on Ukrainian Independence Day? http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/what-will-be-merkels-present-poroshenko-independence-day-307912
EurActiv, 22.08.14: Russia-Ukraine conflict divides Germany's Eurosceptics http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/russia-ukraine-conflict-divides-germanys-eurosceptics-307920
DGAP: Blog, 19.08.14: A Window of Opportunity? https://ip-journal.dgap.org/en/blog/eye-europe/window-opportunity
EurActiv, 25.08.14: Rebels provoke Ukraine with National Day counter-parade http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/rebels-provoke-ukraine-national-day-counter-parade-307936
EurActiv, 26.08.14: Little chance to end fighting, as Putin and Poroshenko prepare for Minsk meeting http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/little-chance-end-fighting-putin-and-poroshenko-prepare-minsk-meeting-307964

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