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Kiev, Talks between Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who blamed Russia for stoking the crisis in Ukraine, were scrapped when the Russian leader overstayed a celebration of a Soviet defeat of the Nazis in Serbia.
Serbia’s government, which has refused to implement European Union sanctions against Russia even as it’s trying to join the bloc, welcomed Putin with the country’s first military parade since the days of Cold-War President Josip Broz Tito. The festivities commemorated the Soviet Union’s role in liberating Belgrade from the Nazis in World War II.
The missed meeting comes amid rising tension over Ukraine, which along with its U.S. and EU allies says Putin is stoking violence by providing separatist rebels with cash, weapons and fighters since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March. Putin denies involvement in the conflict.Putin has likened the tactics of Ukrainian forces fighting pro-Russian insurgents to those of Nazi Germany and Kremlin-controlled media characterizes some of the forces as fascists.
“Our common debt is to remember the lessons of World War II, to resist attempts to glorify Nazis and their collaborators, and to join forces in creating a climate of trust and mutual understanding in Europe,” Putin said in a speech in Belgrade.
Merkel Criticism
A one-hour, 45-minute flight away in Milan, Merkel’s office said the 7 p.m. meeting between her and Putin had been scrapped and declined to say whether it would be rescheduled. Later, Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said a meeting may still happen tonight.
Earlier, the Chancellor criticized Putin’s government for doing too little to support a truce between Ukrainian forces and rebels agreed Sept. 5 in Minsk, Belarus.
Before wider talks tomorrow between Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and EU leaders, Merkel said she would urge Russia to pull back its armed forces from Ukraine’s border, help secure the frontier, and help ensure Ukraine can carry out Oct. 26 elections on its entire territory.
“It’s above all Russia’s responsibility to make clear how the Minsk agreement can really be adhered to,” Merkel said in Milan. “Unfortunately there are very, very big deficits in this respect. But it will also be important to seek dialogue.”
The German leader said Russia’s violation of international law regarding the annexation of Crimea must be countered and that EU sanctions on Russia are an important part of efforts to resolve the crisis.
Nuclear Powers
Putin’s government has retaliated with counter-sanctions that have hurt EU economies and pushed Russia, already suffering from low oil prices, to the brink of recession.
The ruble slid to a record low as the Bank of Russia’s pledge to provide $50 billion of foreign currency through 2016 failed to ease the rout amid an oil slump. The currency dropped 1.2 percent to 46.0715 against the central bank’s euro-dollar basket at 7:23 p.m. in Moscow. The Micex index of Russian stocks fell 1.2 percent.
In Ukraine’s east, there was no “large pullback of Russian troops” from the border and Russia continues to send mercenaries and arms to rebels, military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said today in Kiev, adding that separatists are concentrating forces near Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. Three Ukrainian soldiers died and nine were wounded in combat over the past 24 hours, he said.
Putin [] said that he won’t bow to pressure from the U.S. and EU over Ukraine. He also said his government won’t be responsible if an energy crisis erupts in the EU, which gets about 15 percent of the natural gas for electricity and heating from Russia via pipelines crossing Ukraine.
“We hope that our partners will realize the futility of attempts to blackmail Russia and remember what consequences discord between major nuclear powers could bring for strategic stability,” he told Serbia’s Politika newspaper.
In Serbia, which counts Russia as its biggest ally in rejecting the international recognition of Kosovo’s independence, President Tomislav Nikolic awarded “dear brother Vladimir” the country’s highest recognition, the Order of the Republic.
While Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has pledged to join the EU by 2020, he’s also tried to deepen investment and energy ties with Russia and insists the 28-member bloc isn’t his country’s only avenue for development. Cheering crowds braved rain to greet Putin in Belgrade waving banners, including one reading “Vladimir, Save Us.”
Gas Crisis
Putin said Russia may consider allowing a quota of cars made by Italian manufacturer Fiat SpA in Serbia to be exported to Russia. He also sees a chance for Serbian farm exports to triple to $500 million. Russia has banned imports of European foodstuffs and Serbia has promised Russia it won’t allow EU countries to use its territory to export food.
The sanctions “provide opportunities” for countries that “want to cooperate with Russia,” Putin said in Belgrade.
Putin’s meeting with Poroshenko tomorrow will precede a new round of gas talks planned for Oct. 21, as Ukraine tries to ensure it has enough of the fuel for winter. The EU has been seeking to broker an interim deal between Putin and Poroshenko to avoid a repeat of supply cuts to the bloc in 2006 and 2009.
While Putin said he hoped they can reach an agreement, he said the risk for EU-bound natural gas traveling through Ukraine is high, and Russia won’t be responsible if an energy crisis emerges.
“If we see that the Ukrainian partners siphon off our gas, we’ll reduce deliveries,” he said.
