Eu, Us, Ukraine And Russia Meet İn Geneva

A Geneva-held conference on Ukraine crisis began on Thursday morning, with representatives of the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.), Ukraine and Russia attending. 



U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the crisis in Ukraine at the InterContinental Hotel in Geneva.



Ukraine is represented by Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsa.



This morning, Kerry will hold bilateral meetings with the EU, Russia and Ukraine delegations, and Ashton and the three foreign ministers will meet together this afternoon.



Before today's meeting, Ashton had met with Deshchytsa in Geneva on Wednesday.



A press conference is expected at 3pm Geneva time (1300GMT). 



The U.S. and EU will come to Geneva with the threat of a package of additional sanctions to use against Russia if Russia refuses to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.



U.S. President Barack Obama said he hoped the upcoming contact group meeting in Geneva will contribute to a diplomatic solution.



Before the meeting, EU representative Ashton stated, "The EU is fully engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. We seek to find a political solution and together with the international community, the EU is making a major contribution to efforts to stabilize the situation in the country." She added the Geneva meeting would decrease the likelihood of tougher economic sanctions.



The Ukrainian crisis began in November 21 as ousted former president Viktor Yanukovich announced abandonment of a trade agreement with EU, seeking closer ties with Russia.



Over the past four days, pro-Russian troops have been seizing public buildings in eastern and south-eastern Ukraine, preparing for fighting with the Ukrainian army and militias, while Russia seeks to establish pro-Russian local administrations in areas where significant Russian-speaking minorities are demanding a federated Ukraine. Yesterday, AA reported the presence of tanks with Russian flags in Slavyansk.



The West has repeatedly accused Moscow of planning an invasion of Ukraine after similar actions in Crimea, where pro-Russian militias seized public buildings. A referendum was held and Crimea was declared part of the Russian Federation.



The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Yuri Klymenko said on Tuesday, "If there is aggression against eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, we will use self-defense."



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Cenevre