Written By Unknown on Jumat, 13 Februari 2015 | 16.15
Even without a tie, the new Greek leader seemed comfortable and relaxed as he entered the ugly concrete box where Brussels summitry is conducted.
It's the first time he's met all 27 of his EU peers since Syriza's convincing win in last month's Greek elections.
But a few hours ago, the atmosphere between the Eurozone's finance ministers was anything but cordial.
A source present at the Eurogroup negotiations told Sky News that an argument flared over a single word, but one which has become central to the entire stand-off.
New Greek PM (R) will have had an easier time than his finance minister
The new government in Athens argues the current bailout conditions are stifling growth and causing a humanitarian crisis.
They are trying to get some money to tide them over this summer while they enter complex negotiations over a third of the most stringent demands made by the lenders.
Video:Anti-Austerity Party Wins In Greece
The Greek delegation led by Yanis Varoufakis had insisted that any written conclusions over what they term a "bridging loan" for Greece - after the rescue package expires in a fortnight - should contain the word "amended".
To the Germans, and some of the other hardliners, that inferred Greece's creditors had been convinced to disburse cash under less onerous conditions.
When he read this, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble became visibly irritated, insisting the word be changed to "extended".
The Greeks refused to budge and the evening hit the buffers.
Video:A Guide To Greece's Economic Woes
After fruitless attempts to find a compromise, Mr Schauble concluded that a compromise would be impossible, according to our source.
Today's summit was hoping to hear some good news about Greece, but it looks as though a new form of words will have to be sought before the next group of ministers meeting next Monday.
Russia has been warned sanctions will be ramped up if the truce to end the Ukraine conflict is not fully implemented.
The ceasefire is due to come into force on Sunday following 16-hour talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.
Previous ceasefires have failed to hold and German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the agreement as "a glimmer of hope - no more, no less".
Russia is already enduring financial and diplomatic sanctions for its alleged role in helping separatists who control parts of eastern Ukraine.
And Mrs Merkel warned: "We hold open the possibility, if these new agreements are not implemented, that we must take further measures."
Video:Ceasefire Deal In Ukraine Conflict
EU officials have been asked to prepare extra sanctions in case the ceasefire collapses, Mrs Merkel added.
European Council President Donald Tusk said previously agreed sanctions against 19 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and nine entities would still come into force next week.
"Our trust in the goodwill of (Russian) President Putin is limited, this is why we have to maintain our decision on sanctions," he said.
Video:Poroshenko Expresses Surprise
The terms of the ceasefire include a withdrawal of heavy weapons, Ukraine taking control of its Russian border, the granting of special status to rebel regions and addressing the humanitarian crisis created by the 10-month conflict.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko admitted to having doubts.
"It was very difficult negotiation and we expect a not easy implementation process," he said.
Video:The Demands From Both Sides
Soon after the ceasefire was announced, Kiev complained of a new mass influx of Russian armour into rebel-held areas.
The US labelled the agreement, which was brokered in Belarus, as "potentially significant", but also expressed concern about the situation on the ground.
"The United States is particularly concerned about the escalation of fighting today, which is inconsistent with the spirit of the accord," the White House said in a statement.
Germany has relaxed its fierce opposition to an easing of the bailout demands faced by Greece, though there are no signs a new deal is imminent.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered an olive branch at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels after the country's biggest creditor had previously ruled out writing off debt or allowing a relaxation of austerity.
She told reporters: "Europe always has been geared towards finding compromises. Compromises are agreed when the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Germany is ready for this."
The new Greek government - led by prime minister Alexis Tsipras - rose to power on the back of anger at the rescue deal among Greeks that it was killing off any chance of economic recovery.
Its economy is around 25% smaller than it was before the crisis and poverty and unemployment have swelled, with the youth jobless rate above 60%.
Merkel has been the key cheerleader for austerity, fearing that any relaxation of the €240bn bailout's terms would send a signal to other heavily indebted nations that they could divert from reforms.
It was confirmed on Thursday that technical discussions had begun ahead of another meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Monday after talks broke down between them on Wednesday.
Hope that a deal can be reached to support Greek economic recovery and avoid the possibility of a default and exit from the single currency helped support Greek stocks on Thursday following days of volatility.
News of German support for compromise extended the rally on Friday, with some banks enjoying gains of more than 17%.
Tsipras expressed his hope that a "mutually acceptable" debt deal could be secured as early as next week.
He said: "The Greek delegation will take part in these meetings with crystal clear proposals and we will try and convince, not blackmail, our partners about our proposals.
"Our program will respect European rules .... we will keep balanced budget, respect the fiscal rules of the EU.
"We don't want to go back to era of deficits."
Tsipras said his government will propose a set of reforms particularly dealing with the "shortcomings of the Greek state" such as corruption and tax evasion.
The Greek government sees compromise as the way forward but it has ruled out extending the current bailout programme and its associated austerity.
It wants to negotiate a so-called bridge to tide Greece over for the summer until such time as a more permanent deal can be arranged.
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 12 Februari 2015 | 16.15
It may seem strange but a precursor to a ceasefire is often a spike in the actual fighting on the battlefield and that is exactly what is happening in eastern Ukraine.
Both the government and rebel forces are engaged in what are effectively land grabs as the expectation of some type of deal being reached in Minsk draws nearer.
There may of course be no deal or not one that lasts too long, so it sort of makes sense for the protagonists to go at each other "hammer and tongs" as the countdown begins.
If you are sheltering in a Soviet-era block of flats while grad rockets land in your neighbourhood it might not feel like it makes any sense at all.
There has been a ceasefire deal of course. It was agreed in September last year and brought around a period of some stability rather than an actual end to the fighting. Both sides took the opportunity to strengthen their positions though and as the year began the hostilities grew more intense and finally flared into the current state of war once again.
Who wants what in a divide up of part of Ukraine's east
The key question is whether the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany and, of course, Russia can come up with a renewed plan acceptable to everyone.
In essence, the formula for the peace deal would be an immediate ceasefire; after that its starts getting more tricky.
Video:Mortar Attack On Bus Station
A wide demilitarised zone on both sides of the front line and monitored by international observers is being proposed with a similar observer corp on the proper Ukrainian/Russian border.
Heavy weapons would be withdrawn by both sides and prisoners exchanged in the ensuing peace.
Ukraine would maintain its territorial integrity but the Kiev government would give greater autonomy to the local governments of Donetsk and Luhansk.
All of the above agreements would be acceptable to all sides as well as the countries watching in. The problem is that the details aren't just sticking points - they could be game changers.
To begin with, exactly where is the demilitarised zone and the "border" with western Ukraine? Since the September treaty, the rebels have taken more ground and want to keep it. Ukraine wants it back.
Video:UGC Captures Attack On Kramatorsk
What constitutes heavy weapons and will some of the rebels' suspiciously new bits of kit return across the border to Russia from whence it came?
What about those rebels who everyone acknowledges are Russian? Sent by the Kremlin or not, Ukraine says they have to go home.
What will be the status of the newly empowered rebel-held regions? Ukraine wants to remain the government of the whole country. The rebels and Russia, to all intents and purposes, want these areas to be autonomous although remaining within Ukraine to act as a veto for any future attempts by Kiev to strengthen its ties to Europe.
What happens to Crimea is probably way too toxic for these talks and will probably be set aside and put in the "just don't go there" bin for now.
So if all these issues have been addressed and everyone sticks to their side of the bargain a permanent peace is imminent.
Video:Obama Warns Putin On Ukraine
However, I wouldn't bet on it.
Both sides have said they will strengthen their positions and prepare for a greater escalation in the war if no deal is reached. Regardless, one must expect them to strengthen their positions and prepare for war anyway; it just might be further back than the current front lines.
What the local population can hope for is a ceasefire and a return to a sort of peace. Most agree that they want the fighting to stop and it all to go away. While many support the Kiev side, many also distrust Kiev, won't forgive attacks by government troops on their towns and are fearful of revenge by the substantial right-wing militias that make up Ukraine's "Civil Defence" forces.
A year on, Ukraine remains bitterly divided and riven with complex ideological, social and geographical problems.
A Minsk deal won't solve these problems but it might halt the killing; for a while.
A court in South Korea has sentenced the daughter of the boss of Korean Air to a year in prison after she threw a tantrum over a packet of airline nuts.
Heather Cho was the Executive Vice President of Korean Air until she was forced to resign in December following an incident on a Korean Air flight from New York to Seoul.
Cho had ordered the plane to return to its gate so the Chief Steward could be removed after she had been offered her first-class snack in a plastic packet rather than in a dish.
The 40 -year-old has been convicted of obstructing aviation safety after making an unauthorised demand for the plane to return to the gate. She was cleared of charges relating to allegations that she had tried to bribe the victims in the case.
One of the three judges said that the incident would never have occurred if Cho had shown consideration for other human beings, had not treated them as slaves, and had been conscious of public perception.
Heather Cho leaving court
The incident happened in a three-minute period as the plane was backing away from the gate in preparation for take-off. CCTV footage from the gate at JFK airport, played in court, shows the Korean Air plane pulling back from the stand.
After backing up for 25 seconds, the plane stops and remains stationary for three minutes before moving back up to the gate.
Inside the first class cabin, Heather Cho had been offered her nuts by stewardess Kim Do-hee. Angry that they had been presented to her in their packet, Cho remonstrated with the stewardess.
The chief steward of the flight, Park Chang-Jin, attempted to resolves the situation but he too was given a dressing down by Cho.
Mr Park told the court: "[Cho] was like a beast that found its prey, gritting its teeth as she became abusive, not listening to what I had to say at all".
"I don't think Cho showed an ounce of conscience, treating powerless people like myself like feudal slaves, forcing us to sacrifice and treating it as if it was the natural thing to do," the chief steward told the court in evidence.
As the plane sat on the tarmac metres from the gate, Cho ordered that Mr Park bring her a tablet computer containing the airlines protocol so that she could prove to him that he had violated airline procedure in the distribution of nuts to first class passengers.
The computer was produced but Mr Park was unable to remember the password. It is alleged that Ms Cho then began to hit Mr Park and ordered that he be removed from the flight. The Captain returned the plane to the gate and Mr Park was removed.
Cho's father, Cho Yang-ho, is the chairman of the airline
The incident has sparked a wider debate within South Korea about abuse of power and nepotism within the country's so-called 'Chaebols' – family-owned conglomerates who dominate South Korean business. Cho's father, Cho Yang-ho, the airline's chairman was convicted of tax evasion in 2000 and given a suspended sentence before being issued with a presidential pardon.
There have been numerous other cases involving 'Chaebols' which together have prompted suggestions that they act above the law and lack proper checks and balances.
In 2008, Samsung's Chairman, Lee Kun-hee was given a three year suspended sentence for financial wrongdoing. He too was given a presidential pardon.
Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are struggling to reach a deal after all-night talks aimed at ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
There has apparently been little progress at the summit in the Belarusian capital Minsk.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has said conditions laid down by Russia are unacceptable.
He is said to be unhappy with a Russian proposal on the demarcation line which separates rebels and Ukrainian forces.
Another sticking point is Moscow's position on the future status of territory held by the pro-Russian separatists.
Video:The Demands From Both Sides
The arrival at the talks of two leaders of the rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk regions had raised hopes of an agreement.
But they are refusing to sign a deal unless Kiev agrees to withdraw its troops from the key railway town of Debeltseve.
"No agreement yet. The separatists do not want to sign. They demand the retreat of the Ukrainian army from Debaltseve," a source at the talks has been quoted as saying.
The discussions involve Mr Petroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Earlier they were reported to be close to an agreement to end the 10-month conflict, which has cost more than 5,300 lives.
Video:Mortar Attack On Bus Station
Ukrainian presidential aide Valeriy Chaly said a "battle of nerves" was under way as dawn approached.
"We've got another 5-6 hours of work. At least," he said on Facebook after talks had already been going on for seven hours.
Mr Poroshenko has said the talks are crucial in deciding whether the situation will de-escalate or spiral "out of control".
The negotiations opened with a brief handshake between Mr Poroshenko and Mr Putin, who were meeting for the first time since October.
A source told AFP the leaders were hoping to sign a joint statement calling for the fulfilment of an earlier failed peace plan signed by Kiev and the rebels last year.
Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Februari 2015 | 16.15
Britain has shut its embassy in Yemen and advised any citizens to leave immediately after the country was taken over by Shia rebels
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said diplomatic staff were being withdrawn from the capital Sana'a because they were judged to be at "increased risk".
The US also said it had closed its embassy and evacuated staff.
Last week Houthi militiamen announced on TV that they had dissolved Yemen's parliament and were forming a five-member presidential council to replace Abd-Rabu Mansour Hadi for an interim two-year period.
Security guards outside Yemen's parliament, which has been dissolved
Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood said: "The security situation in Yemen has continued to deteriorate over recent days.
"Regrettably we now judge that our embassy staff and premises are at increased risk.
Video:19 Jan: Yemen In Turmoil
"We have therefore decided to withdraw diplomatic staff and temporarily suspend the operations of the British embassy in Sana'a.
"Our ambassador and diplomatic staff have left Yemen this morning and will return to the UK.
"British nationals who remain in Yemen despite our longstanding and consistent message to leave the country should leave immediately.
"We continue to believe that a stable, united, democratic and prosperous Yemen is the best future for the country.
"We will continue to work internationally to help Yemen achieve a legitimate, transparent political transition in which all Yemenis are represented."
Video:Al Qaeda Praises Paris Gunmen
The crisis in the country escalated last month when the rebels kidnapped the president's chief of staff and stormed his palace - prompting Mr Hadi's resignation.
He and a number of his ministers have been under house arrest, while UN-organised talks between the country's political factions broke down this week amid claims of threats from the rebels.
US officials said the closure of their embassy would not affect counter-terrorism operations against al Qaeda's Yemen branch.
The terror group, known as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris and one of the attackers, Said Kouachi, is believed to have trained in Yemen camps.
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Video:UK May Supply Weapons To Ukraine
Four people have been killed in mortar attacks on a bus station and a metals plant in the rebel-held Ukrainian city of Donetsk, as peace talks were due to begin in Belarus.
"A bus driver died as a result of mortar fire at a bus station in the centre of Donetsk," a spokesman for the pro-Russian separatists told AFP.
An employee of the metals plant said three people including two guards had lost their lives during an attack on the smelter.
A rebel soldier stands guard at the bus station
Elsewhere, 19 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 78 wounded in rebel attacks near the key railway town of Debaltseve, a military spokesman said.
In a statement on his website, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revealed he made an impromptu visit to the war-torn eastern region early on Wednesday.
1/15
Gallery: Ukraine Crisis: Fighting Intensifies
A destroyed Ukrainian Army tank outside Uglegorsk, 6km (4m) southwest of Debaltseve
Pro-Russian separatists' ammunition and an armoured vehicle in Uglegorsk. The EU has put fresh sanctions against Moscow on hold ahead of further talks to thrash out a lasting peace deal
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A pro-Russian separatist fighter. President Barack Obama said the United States had no desire to "weaken" Russia, but the West had to impose a penalty for Moscow's aggression in Ukraine
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Part of a Ukrainian Army tank destroyed in fighting
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Pro-Russian separatist fighters ride on the top of an armoured vehicle
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He stopped in the city of Kramatorsk, some 50km (30m) from the front line, where Kiev says 16 people were killed and 48 wounded in a rocket strike on Tuesday.
"We demand an unconditional peace," Mr Poroshenko said. "We demand a cease-fire, a withdrawal of all foreign troops, and closing of the border... We will find a compromise within the country."
In a telephone call on the eve of the talks, President Barack Obama urged his Russian counterpart to reach a deal to end the Ukraine conflict, which has cost more than 5,300 lives since April.
The White House said afterwards Mr Obama warned Vladimir Putin the "costs for Russia will rise" if a peaceful solution is not found.
"If Russia continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise," a statement said.
Video:How Popular Is Putin In Russia?
The Kremlin said the two leaders highlighted the need for a political solution to the "internal" conflict in Ukraine, and noted the importance of safeguarding the rights of all inhabitants, including Russian-speakers in the east.
The summit in the Belarus capital follows last week's discussions between Mr Putin and Mr Poroshenko, led by Germany and France.
Mr Putin is scheduled to meet Mr Poroshenko and the leaders of France and Germany, who have called on the warring parties to refrain from hostilities that could derail the peace initiative.
Today's talks are expected to focus on withdrawing heavy weapons, creating a demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine and starting a dialogue between Kiev and the rebels.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday "quite a number of problems remain" and the aim was to find a genuine accord, "not just one on paper".
Video:Sky News Special Report: Putin
Mr Obama has come under increasing pressure to provide military aid to Ukraine amid claims Russia has been arming the rebels with heavy weaponry - claims denied by Moscow.
After meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington on Monday, Mr Obama said he had ordered his team to see "whether there are additional things we can do to help Ukraine bolster its defences in the face of Russian aggression".
Britain has said it will keep its decision not to arm Ukraine under review as it "could not allow" its armed forces to "collapse".
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Mortar Attacks Before Ukraine Peace Talks
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Video:UK May Supply Weapons To Ukraine
Four people have been killed in mortar attacks on a bus station and a metals plant in the rebel-held Ukrainian city of Donetsk, as peace talks were due to begin in Belarus.
"A bus driver died as a result of mortar fire at a bus station in the centre of Donetsk," a spokesman for the pro-Russian separatists told AFP.
An employee of the metals plant said three people including two guards had lost their lives during an attack on the smelter.
A rebel soldier stands guard at the bus station
Elsewhere, 19 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 78 wounded in rebel attacks near the key railway town of Debaltseve, a military spokesman said.
In a statement on his website, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revealed he made an impromptu visit to the war-torn eastern region early on Wednesday.
1/15
Gallery: Ukraine Crisis: Fighting Intensifies
A destroyed Ukrainian Army tank outside Uglegorsk, 6km (4m) southwest of Debaltseve
Pro-Russian separatists' ammunition and an armoured vehicle in Uglegorsk. The EU has put fresh sanctions against Moscow on hold ahead of further talks to thrash out a lasting peace deal
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A pro-Russian separatist fighter. President Barack Obama said the United States had no desire to "weaken" Russia, but the West had to impose a penalty for Moscow's aggression in Ukraine
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Part of a Ukrainian Army tank destroyed in fighting
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Pro-Russian separatist fighters ride on the top of an armoured vehicle
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He stopped in the city of Kramatorsk, some 50km (30m) from the front line, where Kiev says 16 people were killed and 48 wounded in a rocket strike on Tuesday.
"We demand an unconditional peace," Mr Poroshenko said. "We demand a cease-fire, a withdrawal of all foreign troops, and closing of the border... We will find a compromise within the country."
In a telephone call on the eve of the talks, President Barack Obama urged his Russian counterpart to reach a deal to end the Ukraine conflict, which has cost more than 5,300 lives since April.
The White House said afterwards Mr Obama warned Vladimir Putin the "costs for Russia will rise" if a peaceful solution is not found.
"If Russia continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise," a statement said.
Video:How Popular Is Putin In Russia?
The Kremlin said the two leaders highlighted the need for a political solution to the "internal" conflict in Ukraine, and noted the importance of safeguarding the rights of all inhabitants, including Russian-speakers in the east.
The summit in the Belarus capital follows last week's discussions between Mr Putin and Mr Poroshenko, led by Germany and France.
Mr Putin is scheduled to meet Mr Poroshenko and the leaders of France and Germany, who have called on the warring parties to refrain from hostilities that could derail the peace initiative.
Today's talks are expected to focus on withdrawing heavy weapons, creating a demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine and starting a dialogue between Kiev and the rebels.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday "quite a number of problems remain" and the aim was to find a genuine accord, "not just one on paper".
Video:Sky News Special Report: Putin
Mr Obama has come under increasing pressure to provide military aid to Ukraine amid claims Russia has been arming the rebels with heavy weaponry - claims denied by Moscow.
After meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington on Monday, Mr Obama said he had ordered his team to see "whether there are additional things we can do to help Ukraine bolster its defences in the face of Russian aggression".
Britain has said it will keep its decision not to arm Ukraine under review as it "could not allow" its armed forces to "collapse".
Taiwan's TransAsia Airways has announced it will pay nearly half a million US dollars in compensation to relatives of each victim following a plane crash earlier this month.
The offer of $14.9 million Taiwanese New Dollars (£307,000) for each family comes seven months after the airline made a similar payout to the families of 48 passengers killed in another crash last July.
TransAsia Airways Flight GE235 crashed last Wednesday just minutes after taking off from Taipei's Songshan airport.
There were 53 passengers and five crew on board and at least 42 of these were killed.
Dramatic footage captured by a bystander showed the plane hitting a road and cart-wheeling into the Keeling River.
Video:Plane Crash Recording Released
The compensation deal comes after private discussions held in Taipei between the airline and representatives of some of the families affected.
A spokesman for the airline said the amount was offered as compensation for each person who died in the accident, adding: "We hope to reach a settlement with the families".
She added: "We can fully understand that it would be hard for the families to accept it immediately. Still we hope the representatives could take the proposal back and take it into consideration."
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Gallery: Survivors Of TransAsia Plane Crash
Rescuers are working to help survivors. Click through for more photos
Written By Unknown on Selasa, 10 Februari 2015 | 16.15
Kremlin: Don't Issue Ultimatums To Putin
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Video:Dramatic Moment Rocket Hits Hall
Vladimir Putin will not be spoken to in the language of ultimatums, a Russian radio station has quoted the Kremlin as saying.
Reports suggest German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given him until Wednesday to agree a peace plan over Ukraine or face new sanctions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Govorit Moskva radio: "Nobody has ever talked to the president in the tone of an ultimatum - and could not do so even if they wanted to."
The warning came as Mrs Merkel met US President Barack Obama to discuss the peace initiative, while the White House considers supplying weapons to Kiev.
The President said Russia was trying to redraw borders behind the "barrel of a gun" and that diplomacy remained the priority in the crisis.
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Gallery: Ukraine Fighting: Latest Pictures
Ukrainian servicemen unload Grad rockets from a truck before launching them towards pro-Russian separatist forces outside Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine
At least nine Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 26 wounded in fighting with Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions in the past 24 hours
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Ukraine's military say fighting has been particularly intense around the town of Debaltseve, a major rail and road junction northeast of the city of Donetsk
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Regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin said seven civilians had been killed by shelling in Debaltseve and another frontline town of Avdiivka
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The leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia are preparing for a summit in the Belarussian capital of Minsk on Wednesday, aiming to end the 10-month conflict, which has killed more than 5,000 people.
Mr Putin hosted Mrs Merkel and the French leader Francois Hollande for talks in the Kremlin on Friday and the Wall Street Journal had reported that Mrs Merkel had given Mr Putin until Wednesday to agree to a Franco-German peace plan.
Meanwhile, the European Union has approved new visa bans and asset freezes on more Ukrainian separatists and Russians but has suspended the new sanctions until 16 February to give peace talks a chance, according to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Video:Obama Warns Putin On Ukraine
He said: "The principle of the sanctions will be kept but their implementation will depend on the situation on the ground.
"We will assess the situation again next Monday."
Video:Hammond: Putin Acting Like 'Tyrant'
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Kremlin: Don't Issue Ultimatums To Putin
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Video:Dramatic Moment Rocket Hits Hall
Vladimir Putin will not be spoken to in the language of ultimatums, a Russian radio station has quoted the Kremlin as saying.
Reports suggest German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given him until Wednesday to agree a peace plan over Ukraine or face new sanctions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Govorit Moskva radio: "Nobody has ever talked to the president in the tone of an ultimatum - and could not do so even if they wanted to."
The warning came as Mrs Merkel met US President Barack Obama to discuss the peace initiative, while the White House considers supplying weapons to Kiev.
The President said Russia was trying to redraw borders behind the "barrel of a gun" and that diplomacy remained the priority in the crisis.
1/10
Gallery: Ukraine Fighting: Latest Pictures
Ukrainian servicemen unload Grad rockets from a truck before launching them towards pro-Russian separatist forces outside Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine
At least nine Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 26 wounded in fighting with Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions in the past 24 hours
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Ukraine's military say fighting has been particularly intense around the town of Debaltseve, a major rail and road junction northeast of the city of Donetsk
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Regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin said seven civilians had been killed by shelling in Debaltseve and another frontline town of Avdiivka
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The leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia are preparing for a summit in the Belarussian capital of Minsk on Wednesday, aiming to end the 10-month conflict, which has killed more than 5,000 people.
Mr Putin hosted Mrs Merkel and the French leader Francois Hollande for talks in the Kremlin on Friday and the Wall Street Journal had reported that Mrs Merkel had given Mr Putin until Wednesday to agree to a Franco-German peace plan.
Meanwhile, the European Union has approved new visa bans and asset freezes on more Ukrainian separatists and Russians but has suspended the new sanctions until 16 February to give peace talks a chance, according to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Video:Obama Warns Putin On Ukraine
He said: "The principle of the sanctions will be kept but their implementation will depend on the situation on the ground.
"We will assess the situation again next Monday."
Video:Hammond: Putin Acting Like 'Tyrant'
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