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EU foreign policy chief arrives in Minsk for Customs Union-Ukraine summit

A source in the EU foreign service said that the European Union hoped the Minsk talks would create the basis for giving “a fresh political impetus” to the settlement process in Ukraine

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton

© EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

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Ukraine's Poroshenko arrives in Minsk to meet with Customs Union leaders

BRUSSELS, August 26. /ITAR-TASS/. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will hold a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko “to discuss the Ukrainian crisis” in the Belarusian capital Minsk, Ashton’s spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said.

A source in the EU foreign service told ITAR-TASS on Monday that the European Union hoped the Minsk talks would create the basis for giving “a fresh political impetus” to the settlement process in Ukraine.

The Minsk summit is officially a meeting between Ukraine and the Moscow-led Customs Union that unites Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, with high-ranking EU officials.

“EU foreign policy chief Ashton, as well as EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger and Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht will represent the EU in Minsk on August 26 for giving a fresh political impetus to negotiations with Moscow and Kiev on the political way of a stable resolution of the Ukrainian crisis,” the source said.

According to the EU source, the EU delegation, led by Ashton, also intends to voice Brussels’ concern over security and humanitarian situation in the east of Ukraine.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine Catherine Ashton EU Customs Union

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