Putin orders troop withdrawal / Putin-Poroshenko to discuss gas and ceasefire at Italy talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to withdraw from the region bordering Ukraine on the 11 October 2014, conceding to one of Ukraine's and the West's key demands.

Some commentators thought this was nothing but a tactical move ahead of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan on the 16-17 October 2014 at which President Putin and Ukrainian President Poroshenko were expected to meet. The meeting, which happened in the sidelines of the ASEM meeting, was described as 'positive but hard'.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 13.10.14: Putin orders Russian troops to withdraw from Ukraine border http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/putin-orders-russian-troops-withdraw-ukraine-border-309116

RIA Novosti, 12.10.14: Ukraine's Poroshenko Expects to Achieve Complete Ceasefire in Donbas in Coming Days http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20141012/193996621/Ukraines-Poroshenko-Expects-to-Achieve-Complete-Ceasefire-in.html

RIA Novosti: Tag: Situation in the South-East of Ukraine http://en.ria.ru/trend/situation_southeast_ukraine_2014/

OSCE: Ukraine – OSCE responds to crisis in and around Ukraine http://www.osce.org/ukrainemonitoring

RIA Novosti, 13.10.14: OSCE Welcomes De-Escalation in Ukraine: Official http://en.ria.ru/world/20141013/194018066/OSCE-Welcomes-De-Escalation-in-Ukraine-Official.html

Deutsche Welle, 13.10.14: Putin orders troops back from Ukraine border http://dw.de/p/1DTob

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

ESO: Background information: Russian opposition defies Putin with anti-war marches / Kyiv pulls out heavy weapons from buffer zone http://www.europeansources.info/record/russian-opposition-defies-putin-with-anti-war-marches-kyiv-pulls-out-heavy-weapons-from-buffer-zone/

EurActiv, 15.10.14: In Milan, Putin and Poroshenko to discuss peace, gas http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/milan-putin-and-poroshenko-discuss-peace-gas-309191

Deutsche Welle, 16.10.14: In a government address, Merkel urges dialogue with Russia http://dw.de/p/1DWKU

Euronews, 16.10.14: Putin-Poroshenko to discuss gas and ceasefire at Italy talks http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/16/putin-poroshenko-to-discuss-gas-and-ceasefire-at-italy-talks/

Deutsche Welle, 16.10.14: Asia and Europe meet in Milan http://dw.de/p/1DWGX

ESO: Background information: Russia threatens EU states with gas cut-offs http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-threatens-eu-states-with-gas-cut-offs/

Deutsche Welle, 16.10.14: Putin accuses US of 'blackmail' http://dw.de/p/1DWG7

Euronews, 15.10.14: Russia-Ukraine cool-down in Milan, still tense on border http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/15/russia-ukraine-cool-down-in-milan-still-tense-on-border/

France24, 17.10.14: Putin calls Poroshenko meeting ‘positive’ while Kremlin cites difficulties http://www.france24.com/en/20141017-russia-ukraine-putin-poroshenko-milan-eu/

Deutsche Welle, 17.10.14: Italian PM calls Ukraine-Russia talks 'really positive' http://dw.de/p/1DWs5

The Guardian, 17.10.14: Putin under pressure to commit to fragile peace plan for eastern Ukraine http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/17/putin-ukraine-eu-leaders-poroshenko-peace-plan

Euronews, 17.10.14: Russia gas threat sends chill through EU-Asia summit http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/17/russia-gas-threat-sends-chill-through-eu-asia-summit/

BBC News, 18.10.14: Ukraine crisis: 'No breakthrough' in Putin-EU talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29653393

France24, 17.10.14: Ukraine under summit spotlight as Putin meets Poroshenko http://www.france24.com/en/20141016-all-eyes-putin-poroshenko-asia-europe-summit-opens-ukraine-russia-eu/

RIA Novosti, 17.10.14: 'Normandy Four' Confirm Adherence to Minsk Agreements http://en.ria.ru/world/20141017/194214333/Normandy-Four-Confirm-Adherence-to-Minsk-Agreements.html

ESO: Background information: Ukraine crisis: Rebels granted self-rule and amnesty http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-crisis-rebels-granted-self-rule-and-amnesty-poroshenko-asks-obama-for-weapons-obtains-blankets/

Ukraine: President: News, 17.10.14: President: Participants of the meeting in Normandy format emphasized the importance of compliance with Minsk agreements http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/uchasniki-zustrichi-u-normandskomu-formati-nagolosili-na-vaz-33888

EUObserver, 17.10.14: Putin makes nice on Ukraine at EU-Russia mini-summit http://euobserver.com/foreign/126129

EurActiv, 17.10.14: Poroshenko says 'basic parameters' of Russia gas deal agreed http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/poroshenko-says-basic-parameters-russia-gas-deal-agreed-309290

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