While Obama agrees with Tsipras, Lavrov invites Kotzias to Moscow!

[no more banksters]

The developments are fast and the latest move by the Russians is the invitation to the new Greek minister of foreign affairs, Nikos Kotzias, by Sergey Lavrov to visit Moscow. Kotzias is well-known for his positions concerning a stronger approach between Greece and Russia and Lavrov also spoke warmly about Alexis Tsipras who met him in Moscow when he was the leader in opposition.

http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2015/01/while-obama-agrees-with-tsipras-lavrov.html

[bemildred]

1. Greek foreign minister repeats criticism of EU over Ukraine

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias stoked a brewing row with European partners over sanctions against Russia on Thursday, saying Athens would not be pushed into agreement because of its impending debt negotiations.

Just days after taking office, the leftwing government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been embroiled in a dispute with European partners after it complained that an EU statement on the crisis in Ukraine had been issued without its consent.

He said some European Union partners had tried to present Greece with an unacceptable fait accompli by issuing the statement without its agreement.

“Anyone who thinks that in the name of debt Greece will renounce its sovereignty and its active participation in European policy making is making a mistake,” he said in a statement issued as European Union foreign ministers met on the Ukraine issue in Brussels.

http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/01/29/greek-foreign-minister-repeats-criticism-of-eu-over-ukraine/

[bemildred]

2. Ukraine peace talks set for Friday as EU ministers debate sanctions

Brussels/Moscow (dpa) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a fresh effort for ceasefire talks on Thursday, as EU foreign ministers drafted new sanctions against separatists in the country and their supporters in Russia.

Poroshenko told a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group that consultations should be held promptly for an immediate ceasefire and heavy weapons withdrawal.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said the group will meet in Minsk on Friday and separatist leaders indicated that they will participate.

"If the talks happen, the main focus will be in implementing the ceasefire," Vladislav Deinego of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic told Interfax.

http://www.dpa-international.com/news/international/ukraine-peace-talks-set-for-friday-as-eu-ministers-debate-sanctions-a-44004731.html

[bemildred]

3. Ukraine: Russia-backed rebels overrun another town in east

ARTEMIVSK, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukraine's military has acknowledged that Russia-backed separatists have overrun another town in their onslaught against government troops in the east of the country.

Military spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said the separatist forces, backed by tanks, attacked the town of Vuhlehirsk on Thursday and government troops were fighting to push them out.

The loss of the town would make it even more difficult for the government to hold onto Debaltseve, a nearby railway hub that sits between the two main rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Debaltseve has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting since the rebel offensive began this month after weeks of relative quiet.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-29-11-39-15