Ukraine crisis: Poroshenko pleads for support
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31207744
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeks
Thousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent days
Ukraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeks
Thousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent days
Ukraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeks
Thousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent days
Ukraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31207744
Petro Poroshenko: "Every day the number of civilian victims is rising"
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appealed to the West for further backing against pro-Russian rebels, including the supply of weapons.
Mr Poroshenko made the plea at a security conference in Munich, where he brandished passports that he said were those of Russian troops in Ukraine.
Russia denies intervening directly in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's military reported continued shelling, and said rebels appeared to be preparing new offensives.
It came as the leaders of France and Germany pushed a peace plan to end the conflict.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are due to discuss the peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko by telephone on Sunday.
The UN says fighting has left nearly 5,400 people dead since April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
'Diplomatic voice'
"We are an independent nation and we have a right to defend our people," Mr Poroshenko told the Munich conference.
Ukraine has "proven to be responsible, that we will not use the defensive equipment to the attack", he said. "The stronger our defence, the more convincing is our diplomatic voice."
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeksThousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent daysUkraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
The US is said to be considering pleas to send weapons to Ukraine.
Mrs Merkel, however, said she could not "imagine any situation in which improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes he will lose militarily".
The statement put her in opposition to Nato's top military commander, US Air Force general Philip Breedlove, who told reporters that Western allies should not "preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option".
US Vice-President Joe Biden said the US would "continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance not to encourage war, but to allow Ukraine to defend itself".
"Let me be clear - we do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine," he said. "But let me be equally clear - we do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing."
'Worth trying'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, also speaking in Munich, denounced what he called "growing appeals in the West to... pump Ukraine full with lethal weapons and to involve it in Nato".
Mr Lavrov said he believed there was "every possibility" that the latest peace plan would allow a resolution of the conflict.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC News, Munich
The escalating winter war in Ukraine provides a grim backdrop to the talks in Munich. Behind the scenes here there have been serious efforts to try to breathe life into the peace process.
But in public nobody was pulling any punches. US Vice-President Joe Biden made clear Washington's distrust of the Russians and its determination to "allow Ukraine to defend itself".
Could that mean giving it weapons? That's the way US thinking seems to be going, to the horror of most of its European allies. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel for one spoke out passionately against such a move.
But there's really no new peace plan in the offing, only a revamp of the old one that was never implemented - the Minsk Agreement of last year. If diplomacy fails and President Barack Obama goes ahead with arms deliveries to Ukraine, it may not only divide Nato, but provoke an even more aggressive Russian response.
Mrs Merkel told the conference that there was no guarantee diplomacy would succeed but it was "definitely worth trying".
The plan is thought to be an attempt to revive a failed ceasefire deal signed in Minsk, in Belarus, in September. Since then, the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers.
Mr Hollande said it would include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said rebels were amassing forces around the strategic town of Debaltseve and in Granitne, 35km north-east of Mariupol.
In rebel-held Donetsk, a BBC correspondent said deep booms could be heard in the distance as Ukrainian forces and rebels continue to exchange fire.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Or contact us using the form below.
Baptism of fire
Petro Poroshenko: "Every day the number of civilian victims is rising"
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appealed to the West for further backing against pro-Russian rebels, including the supply of weapons.
Mr Poroshenko made the plea at a security conference in Munich, where he brandished passports that he said were those of Russian troops in Ukraine.
Russia denies intervening directly in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's military reported continued shelling, and said rebels appeared to be preparing new offensives.
It came as the leaders of France and Germany pushed a peace plan to end the conflict.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are due to discuss the peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko by telephone on Sunday.
The UN says fighting has left nearly 5,400 people dead since April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
'Diplomatic voice'
"We are an independent nation and we have a right to defend our people," Mr Poroshenko told the Munich conference.
Ukraine has "proven to be responsible, that we will not use the defensive equipment to the attack", he said. "The stronger our defence, the more convincing is our diplomatic voice."
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeksThousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent daysUkraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
The US is said to be considering pleas to send weapons to Ukraine.
Mrs Merkel, however, said she could not "imagine any situation in which improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes he will lose militarily".
The statement put her in opposition to Nato's top military commander, US Air Force general Philip Breedlove, who told reporters that Western allies should not "preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option".
US Vice-President Joe Biden said the US would "continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance not to encourage war, but to allow Ukraine to defend itself".
"Let me be clear - we do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine," he said. "But let me be equally clear - we do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing."
'Worth trying'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, also speaking in Munich, denounced what he called "growing appeals in the West to... pump Ukraine full with lethal weapons and to involve it in Nato".
Mr Lavrov said he believed there was "every possibility" that the latest peace plan would allow a resolution of the conflict.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC News, Munich
The escalating winter war in Ukraine provides a grim backdrop to the talks in Munich. Behind the scenes here there have been serious efforts to try to breathe life into the peace process.
But in public nobody was pulling any punches. US Vice-President Joe Biden made clear Washington's distrust of the Russians and its determination to "allow Ukraine to defend itself".
Could that mean giving it weapons? That's the way US thinking seems to be going, to the horror of most of its European allies. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel for one spoke out passionately against such a move.
But there's really no new peace plan in the offing, only a revamp of the old one that was never implemented - the Minsk Agreement of last year. If diplomacy fails and President Barack Obama goes ahead with arms deliveries to Ukraine, it may not only divide Nato, but provoke an even more aggressive Russian response.
Mrs Merkel told the conference that there was no guarantee diplomacy would succeed but it was "definitely worth trying".
The plan is thought to be an attempt to revive a failed ceasefire deal signed in Minsk, in Belarus, in September. Since then, the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers.
Mr Hollande said it would include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said rebels were amassing forces around the strategic town of Debaltseve and in Granitne, 35km north-east of Mariupol.
In rebel-held Donetsk, a BBC correspondent said deep booms could be heard in the distance as Ukrainian forces and rebels continue to exchange fire.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Or contact us using the form below.
Ukraine crisis: Poroshenko pleads for support
Petro Poroshenko: "Every day the number of civilian victims is rising"
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appealed to the West for further backing against pro-Russian rebels, including the supply of weapons.
Mr Poroshenko made the plea at a security conference in Munich, where he brandished passports that he said were those of Russian troops in Ukraine.
Russia denies intervening directly in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's military reported continued shelling, and said rebels appeared to be preparing new offensives.
It came as the leaders of France and Germany pushed a peace plan to end the conflict.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are due to discuss the peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko by telephone on Sunday.
The UN says fighting has left nearly 5,400 people dead since April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
'Diplomatic voice'
"We are an independent nation and we have a right to defend our people," Mr Poroshenko told the Munich conference.
Ukraine has "proven to be responsible, that we will not use the defensive equipment to the attack", he said. "The stronger our defence, the more convincing is our diplomatic voice."
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeksThousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent daysUkraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
The US is said to be considering pleas to send weapons to Ukraine.
Mrs Merkel, however, said she could not "imagine any situation in which improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes he will lose militarily".
The statement put her in opposition to Nato's top military commander, US Air Force general Philip Breedlove, who told reporters that Western allies should not "preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option".
US Vice-President Joe Biden said the US would "continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance not to encourage war, but to allow Ukraine to defend itself".
"Let me be clear - we do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine," he said. "But let me be equally clear - we do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing."
'Worth trying'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, also speaking in Munich, denounced what he called "growing appeals in the West to... pump Ukraine full with lethal weapons and to involve it in Nato".
Mr Lavrov said he believed there was "every possibility" that the latest peace plan would allow a resolution of the conflict.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC News, Munich
The escalating winter war in Ukraine provides a grim backdrop to the talks in Munich. Behind the scenes here there have been serious efforts to try to breathe life into the peace process.
But in public nobody was pulling any punches. US Vice-President Joe Biden made clear Washington's distrust of the Russians and its determination to "allow Ukraine to defend itself".
Could that mean giving it weapons? That's the way US thinking seems to be going, to the horror of most of its European allies. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel for one spoke out passionately against such a move.
But there's really no new peace plan in the offing, only a revamp of the old one that was never implemented - the Minsk Agreement of last year. If diplomacy fails and President Barack Obama goes ahead with arms deliveries to Ukraine, it may not only divide Nato, but provoke an even more aggressive Russian response.
Mrs Merkel told the conference that there was no guarantee diplomacy would succeed but it was "definitely worth trying".
The plan is thought to be an attempt to revive a failed ceasefire deal signed in Minsk, in Belarus, in September. Since then, the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers.
Mr Hollande said it would include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said rebels were amassing forces around the strategic town of Debaltseve and in Granitne, 35km north-east of Mariupol.
In rebel-held Donetsk, a BBC correspondent said deep booms could be heard in the distance as Ukrainian forces and rebels continue to exchange fire.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Or contact us using the form below.
Petro Poroshenko: "Every day the number of civilian victims is rising"
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appealed to the West for further backing against pro-Russian rebels, including the supply of weapons.
Mr Poroshenko made the plea at a security conference in Munich, where he brandished passports that he said were those of Russian troops in Ukraine.
Russia denies intervening directly in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's military reported continued shelling, and said rebels appeared to be preparing new offensives.
It came as the leaders of France and Germany pushed a peace plan to end the conflict.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are due to discuss the peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko by telephone on Sunday.
The UN says fighting has left nearly 5,400 people dead since April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
'Diplomatic voice'
"We are an independent nation and we have a right to defend our people," Mr Poroshenko told the Munich conference.
Ukraine has "proven to be responsible, that we will not use the defensive equipment to the attack", he said. "The stronger our defence, the more convincing is our diplomatic voice."
Eastern Ukraine has seen a surge of violence in recent weeksThousands of civilians have been evacuated from affected areas in recent daysUkraine's military said pro-Russian fighters appeared to be preparing for new offensives
The US is said to be considering pleas to send weapons to Ukraine.
Mrs Merkel, however, said she could not "imagine any situation in which improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes he will lose militarily".
The statement put her in opposition to Nato's top military commander, US Air Force general Philip Breedlove, who told reporters that Western allies should not "preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option".
US Vice-President Joe Biden said the US would "continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance not to encourage war, but to allow Ukraine to defend itself".
"Let me be clear - we do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine," he said. "But let me be equally clear - we do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing."
'Worth trying'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, also speaking in Munich, denounced what he called "growing appeals in the West to... pump Ukraine full with lethal weapons and to involve it in Nato".
Mr Lavrov said he believed there was "every possibility" that the latest peace plan would allow a resolution of the conflict.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC News, Munich
The escalating winter war in Ukraine provides a grim backdrop to the talks in Munich. Behind the scenes here there have been serious efforts to try to breathe life into the peace process.
But in public nobody was pulling any punches. US Vice-President Joe Biden made clear Washington's distrust of the Russians and its determination to "allow Ukraine to defend itself".
Could that mean giving it weapons? That's the way US thinking seems to be going, to the horror of most of its European allies. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel for one spoke out passionately against such a move.
But there's really no new peace plan in the offing, only a revamp of the old one that was never implemented - the Minsk Agreement of last year. If diplomacy fails and President Barack Obama goes ahead with arms deliveries to Ukraine, it may not only divide Nato, but provoke an even more aggressive Russian response.
Mrs Merkel told the conference that there was no guarantee diplomacy would succeed but it was "definitely worth trying".
The plan is thought to be an attempt to revive a failed ceasefire deal signed in Minsk, in Belarus, in September. Since then, the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers.
Mr Hollande said it would include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said rebels were amassing forces around the strategic town of Debaltseve and in Granitne, 35km north-east of Mariupol.
In rebel-held Donetsk, a BBC correspondent said deep booms could be heard in the distance as Ukrainian forces and rebels continue to exchange fire.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Or contact us using the form below.
