Ukraine crisis: Russia must engage with Kiev, says G7

Barack Obama: "If Russia's provocation continues, the G7 nations are ready to impose additional costs"

Leaders of the G7 industrial nations have urged Russia to begin talks with the new leadership in Kiev to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

US President Barack Obama and UK PM David Cameron said Moscow must recognise Petro Poroshenko, who takes office as president on Saturday.
The G7 leaders meeting in Brussels said they were fully behind Mr Poroshenko.
Meanwhile the summit's EU hosts defended Ukraine's "constitutional right" to restore order in the east.
They also called on Russia to stop interfering in Ukraine and take steps to de-escalate the situation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold bilateral talks with European leaders, including Mr Cameron, in Paris on Thursday evening and Friday.
Mr Putin has not ruled out a meeting with Mr Poroshenko at a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Friday.
No talks are planned between Mr Putin and Mr Obama, who will also be at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, fighting is continuing in eastern Ukraine, with reports of an attack on a border post in Donetsk region.
A convoy of vehicles carrying pro-Russian separatists breached the border near the Marynivka checkpoint, the Ukrainian border guard service said.
The attack comes a day after rebels seized a border guard base in neighbouring Luhansk region after days of combat.
'Resolute message' Speaking at a news conference with Mr Cameron, Mr Obama said Russia should "seize the opportunity" provided by the change of leadership in Kiev, and be prepared to face sanctions if the situation continued to deteriorate.

Barroso: "This democratic club... does not accept the Russia of Vladimir Putin"

"Russia needs to recognise that President-elect Poroshenko is the legitimately elected leader of Ukraine and engage the government in Kiev," he said.
"Given its influence over the militants in Ukraine, Russia continues to have a responsibility to convince them to end their violence, lay down their weapons and enter into a dialogue with the Ukrainian government.
"On the other hand, if Russia's provocations continue, it's clear from our discussion here that the G7 nations are ready to impose additional costs on Russia."
Mr Cameron said he had three demands for Mr Putin - the recognition of Mr Poroshenko, stopping the flow of arms across the border to Ukraine, and stopping support for armed separatists.
Europe was committed to possible sanctions targeting sectors of the Russian economy such as oil and gas if these demands were not met, he added.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says that, in the flurry of diplomacy over the D-Day commemorations, the question is whether the signs that Mr Putin may become more accommodating can translate into a real change in policy.

The chairman of the Donetsk People's Republic told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg there was a full-scale civil war going on in Ukraine

Earlier German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the G7 leaders had "exchanged expectations" about Ukraine and Russia.
"On substance, there is no difference whatsoever," she said. "There is great common ground."
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the group was united in sending a "resolute message" to Russia, that it should "recognise and fully engage with" the new Ukrainian authorities.
He added that Russia should "take concrete and credible measures to de-escalate the situation in the east of Ukraine".
European Council President Herman van Rompuy said that the Ukrainian authorities had a constitutional right to try to restore order with their military campaign in the east of the country.
He was responding to remarks by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who took issue with a G7 statement on Ukraine calling the Ukrainian government's military campaign against separatists in the east "measured action".
The statement also condemned Moscow for its "continuing violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty.
The G7 summit is the first since Russia was expelled from the group following its annexation of Crimea in March.
On Thursday, leaders also discussed the global economic outlook, climate change and development issues.