This Article is From Oct 17, 2014

Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel Have 'Serious Differences' Over Ukraine: Kremlin

Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel Have 'Serious Differences' Over Ukraine: Kremlin

File photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Photo: Reuters)

Moscow: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have major differences over the origin and causes of the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin said following talks between the two leaders.

"There are still serious differences concerning the origin of Ukraine's internal conflict, as well as the root causes of what is currently happening," Russian news agencies quoted Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov as saying early on Friday.

His comments came after the two leaders held what Mr Peskov said was a two-and-a-half-hour meeting late on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe (ASEM) summit in Milan.

Ms Merkel had earlier said that it was "first and foremost" Russia's responsibility to make sure a tenuous ceasefire and peace plan agreed last month between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels "really will be implemented."

The ceasefire, reached on September 5 in Minsk, has repeatedly been violated by both sides.

Mr Putin is due to meet Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko early on Friday, with Ms Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Premier David Cameron and Italian leader Matteo Renzi all sitting in.

Ms Merkel and Mr Poroshenko met separately on Thursday for talks on the peace accords, with both "regretting that many points had not yet been implemented," German government sources said.
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