Advertisement

war

Putin 'may join future Ukraine talks': Germany

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Putin 'may join future Ukraine talks': Germany
The Russian President is currently attending to pressing engagements at the bottom of the sea. Photo: DPA

Germany said on Wednesday it could not rule out Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a future round of talks over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine after speculation that Western leaders were snubbing him.

Advertisement

Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting talks with France's President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko on Monday, and analysts said the conspicuous absence of Putin underlined that relations were deteriorating as new violence flares in eastern Ukraine.

The four leaders last met in Minsk in February when a truce deal was signed, but they have also regularly held telephone conversations over the conflict.

Merkel's spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said on Wednesday that although Putin would not join the huddle in Berlin, it was possible that the Russian strongman could attend future talks.

"I cannot rule out that such a meeting would be held but I cannot confirm it," Wirtz told reporters.

Violence in eastern Ukraine this week has sparked a new diplomatic flareup between Moscow - accused by the West of aiding and abetting Ukraine's pro-Russia rebels - and Western powers which want to prop up Kiev's new pro-European leaders against what they view as Russian aggression.

Both Kiev and rebels controlling parts of Ukraine's industrial east reported the deaths of at least 10 soldiers and civilians on Monday in the worst bloodshed in over a month.

SEE ALSO: Ukraine again 'explosive', Germany warns

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also