Russian and Ukrainian leaders sounded optimistic after marathon, Europe-brokered talks today, signaling progress on both a definitive peace settlement in Ukraine and a gas dispute that threatens to disrupt supplies to Europe this winter.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko stopped short of declaring a breakthrough, they both spoke with renewed confidence.
Putin offered praise for Poroshenko's move to give more powers to the east and supported the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitoring of the truce with drones.
Putin also voiced confidence that the issue of Russians who have joined the insurgency in eastern Ukraine could be settled.
Both leaders said they reached consent on the basic guidelines of a gas deal to prevent possible supply disruptions in the winter.
The sticking point remains financing, and Putin indicated that the EU should pick up the tab. "We expect our European partners to offer help to Ukraine," he said.
Alexei Miller, the CEO of the Russian gas company Gazprom, told Russian news agencies from Milan that the leaders agreed Kiev would pay back USD 3.1 billion by the end of the year. It is not clear how much Ukraine would have on hand, raised through loans or with the EU's help.
Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine in the summer over unpaid bills, raising the risks that Ukraine would siphon off gas from the pipeline passing through its territory from Russia to Europe.
Europe is concerned that if Ukraine did so, Russia would cut off all flows through Ukraine, leaving parts of Europe without supplies in the dead of winter, as happened in the past.
As part of an overall peace deal, Europe is seeking full compliance with a month-old cease-fire, clear border controls and local elections in eastern Ukraine in compliance with Ukrainian law, and not under auspices of the rebels. Putin told reporters both sides shared blame for violations.
"The line of division must be fully drawn. It would allow to finally end shootings and civilian deaths," Putin said. "The Ukrainian side knows about that. We will try to find solutions."
Poroshenko said using technology such as video cameras and radar to monitor the border "will allow to determine who is responsible for violating the cease-fire." Drones will be provided by Germany and France in the first stage, with other countries joining later under the OSCE umbrella, the Ukrainian leader said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who participated in two of the joint meetings and bilaterals with each of the leaders, acknowledged some progress but said basic differences remained.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Russia needed to get its troops and heavy weapons out of Ukraine. "Vladimir Putin said very clearly that he doesn't want a frozen conflict, he doesn't want a divided Ukraine," Cameron said.
