Vladimir Putin accuses US over Ukraine arms

Russian president Vladimir Putin has suggested that the United States is already delivering weapons to Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin accuses US over Ukraine arms

Russian president Vladimir Putin has suggested that the United States is already delivering weapons to Ukraine.

Mr Putin was asked, at a news conference in Budapest with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, how he assessed the possible consequences if the United States decides to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russian-backed separatists.

He answered that “according to our information, these weapons are already being delivered”.

He said the new weapons for Ukraine could increase the number of victims but “the result will be the same as it is today. This is unavoidable”.

Russia is asking the UN Security Council to vote on a draft resolution endorsing the new ceasefire agreement on Ukraine and calling on all parties involved to carry it out fully.

The council’s current president, China, announced the meeting today.

An expected vote over the weekend was delayed when other council members pressed Russia to add language about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the passenger jet that was shot down last year over rebel-held eastern Ukraine. Council members said they wanted to make sure the 298 victims were not forgotten.

The latest draft of the resolution reaffirms last year’s council resolution that calls for an independent investigation into the crash and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have said they will begin withdrawing heavy weaponry from the sections of the front line where the ceasefire holds.

Rebel military spokesman Eduard Basurin was quoted as saying they will take the “initiative” and pull back on some parts of the front line.

This does not appear to include the railway hub of Debaltseve, the epicentre of fighting in recent days.

Russian-backed separatists said earlier today that they had gained control of Debaltseve.

The Donetsk News Agency, a rebel mouthpiece, quoted the separatists as saying their forces had pushed government troops out of Debaltseve and controlled a large part of it.

Fierce fighting today appeared to be focused on the city, which both sides claim is on their side of the ceasefire line.

Ukrainian military spokesmen said at least five troops were killed and nine injured in the war zone in the past 24 hours as separatists continued to attack government positions, and the pullout hinged on the ceasefire being fully observed.

“As soon as the militants cease fire, the Ukrainian side will begin to withdraw heavy weaponry from the front line,” he said.

The war in eastern Ukraine has already killed more than 5,600 people and displaced more than a million, according to UN figures. It has also left the country’s industrial heartland in ruins.

The Ukrainian presidential office later called on the European Union and Nato to condemn the rebels for violating the ceasefire.

Russian news agencies quoted Valery Chaly, chief of the Ukrainian presidential administration, as saying that Kiev wants the EU and Nato to “resolutely condemn” separatists for violating the deals brokered by European leaders last week.

The Ukrainian defence ministry denied rebel claims that they had seized control of Debaltseve, but said a group of its soldiers had been ambushed and taken prisoner in the city.

The ministry said street fighting is continuing in Debaltseve.

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