The EU, US, Ukraine and Russia will hold a meeting to discuss the crisis in Ukraine on April 17, Catherine Ashton, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs announced.
Ashton will represent the EU in the meeting.
“The European Union is fully engaged in the diplomatic efforts to deescalate the crisis in Ukraine and to find a political solution. Together with the international community, the EU is making a major contribution to efforts to stabilise the situation in the country,” the statement added.
The announcement of a date for the meeting comes a day after Russian President, Vladimir Putin, wrote to EU heads of government who are dependent on gas passing through Ukraine to say that supplies to Ukraine may be cut off if the country does not pay in advance for its gas and say that urgent consultations were needed.
Ukraine’s prime minister meanwhile is visiting the country’s troubled east where pro-Russian activists have been taking over buildings in events echoing developments in Crimea which eventually led to its annexation by Russia. He has promised an amnesty for activists leaving the buildings peacefully.