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UKRAINE

Swiss president meets Biden for Ukraine talks

US Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday met Didier Burkhalter, leader of Switzerland and current head of the OSCE group that is seeking a leading role during Ukraine's political transition.

Swiss president meets Biden for Ukraine talks
Switzerland's president, Didier Burkhalter. File photo: Johannes Eisele/AFP

Biden held nine phone calls with ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych in recent weeks, seeking to quell political violence, and has emerged as the White House's top pointman on the issue.

Biden and Burkhalter "consulted on the current situation in Ukraine, including what support the United States and the OSCE could offer to help return the country to peace and stability, to ensure justice and accountability, and to strengthen democratic institutions as Ukrainians chart their future course," a White House statement said.

The 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is seeking to act as a coordinator of aid and assistance to the transitional government in Kiev.

The OSCE, headquartered in Austria, operates by consensus and counts countries from Europe, North America and Central Asia — including Ukraine but not the United States — as members.

Switzerland currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE.

Biden also thanked Burkhalter for Switzerland's role in representing US diplomatic interests in countries where it has no diplomatic relations, including Iran and Cuba.

Burkhalter, who holds the Swiss presidency, which rotates yearly among a seven-member cross party cabinet, also discussed the threat of violent extremism, non proliferation and humanitarian assistance with Biden at the White House meeting, the statement said.

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UKRAINE

Germany to support defence of Polish airspace

Germany on Monday said it had reached an agreement to help Poland protect its skies following a deadly rocket strike close to the border with Ukraine.

Germany to support defence of Polish airspace

Berlin would “send Patriot anti-aircraft systems to Poland and support the securing of Polish airspace with Eurofighter (jets)”, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement.

READ ALSO: Germany to buy F-35 fighter jets in military shopping spree

Two people were killed last week when a missile landed in the Polish village of Przewodow, six kilometres (four miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Warsaw and NATO have said the explosion was likely caused by a Ukrainian air-defence missile launched to intercept a Russian barrage, but that Moscow was ultimately to blame because it started the conflict.

Before the deal was agreed, Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said he “welcomed the German proposal with satisfaction”.

Blaszczak said on Twitter he would propose for the systems to be “stationed close to the border with Ukraine”.

Germany has already sent Patriot anti-aircraft units to Slovakia, where Berlin hopes to keep them deployed for longer than currently planned.

The air-defence systems should remain in Slovakia “until the end of 2023 and potentially even beyond”, Lambrecht told the Rheinische Post daily.

“It is our utmost responsibility that NATO does not become a participant in this conflict,” while strengthening its air defences, she said.

READ ALSO: Germany and Spain to train Ukraine troops under EU programme

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