Merkel warns Ukraine conflict could spill over

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (17/11/2014) accused Russia of destabilizing Ukraine and Eastern Europe, warning that the conflict between Kiev and separatists could spread to neighbouring countries.

"Russia violates Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Merkel said in a speech at the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank in Sydney.

She criticized Moscow for treating Ukraine as a sphere of influence rather than a neighboring country.

"After the horrors of two world wars and the end of the Cold War, [the Ukraine crisis] has challenged the peaceful order in Europe," Merkel said, adding that this continues through Russia's destabilizing influence on eastern Ukraine.

The German Chancellor suggested that Russia might be harbouring similar plans to interfere in other east European countries.

"This is not just about Ukraine," Merkel said. "It is about Moldova, about Georgia, and if this continues you must ask questions about Serbia and the West Balkan countries," she said during a question and answer session after her speech.

It was the first time that a Western leader had accused Moscow of meddling in the Balkan region, where countries like Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia have applied for EU membership.

She also said that the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 over eastern Ukraine in July showed that the crisis is not just a regional issue.

"It concerns us all," she said.

The German leader stressed that Russia's "old thinking" in spheres of influence must not be tolerated.

"I am convinced - this won't succeed, even if the path will be long and hard and full of setbacks," she said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin faced repeated criticism of the Kremlin's actions over Ukraine at the weekend's G20 summit of world leaders in Brisbane, Australia, prompting him to defend his policies.

"I am deeply convinced that Russia did not commit any violations of international law," he said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD that was published Monday.

Putin argued that Crimea's secession from Ukraine was more democratic than Kosovo's secession from Serbia, because Crimeans supported it in a referendum, while Kosovo in 2008 declared independence through a parliamentary decision.

He said that the Russian troops present on the Black Sea peninsula did not interfere in the referendum.

Asked about the accusations that Russia is supplying troops and weapons for separatists in Ukraine's east, Putin said: "Nowadays people who wage a fight and consider it righteous will always get weapons."

The Russian leader went on to accuse Kiev's government of using ballistic missiles in their fight against the separatists.

"You want the Ukrainian central authorities to annihilate everyone there, all of their political foes and opponents? We certainly don't. And we won't let it happen," he said.

Clashes continued in eastern Ukraine over the weekend. The Security Council in Kiev said that six soldiers were killed and nine were injured over the past 24 hours.

Authorities in Donetsk said that one civilian was killed and eight were injured by shelling over the weekend.

The fighting has centred on Donetsk airport over the past months, despite a ceasefire brokered in September.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since the fighting began in April, according to UN figures.

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, including the question of whether more sanctions were needed against Russia.

Expectations were high that they would request new travel bans and asset freezes, with separatists in eastern Ukraine among the likeliest targets.

The EU's new foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, along with several other ministers, warned against focusing too heavily on sanctions, arguing that they alone will not solve the crisis.

"I think it's time that the EU and the ministers concentrate also on the other issues that we have to build for having a complete strategy," Mogherini said ahead of the meeting, pointing to the need for reforms in Ukraine and for dialogue with Russia. - Sapa-dpa