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Ukraine and Russia agree to work on truce extension | Ukraine and Russia agree to work on truce extension |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to work together to establish a bilateral ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the office of the French president says. | Ukraine and Russia have agreed to work together to establish a bilateral ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the office of the French president says. |
They are also working towards the establishment of effective border controls, it adds. | They are also working towards the establishment of effective border controls, it adds. |
It follows talks between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France to resolve the conflict in east Ukraine. | It follows talks between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France to resolve the conflict in east Ukraine. |
A ceasefire between the Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists is due to end on Monday evening. | A ceasefire between the Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists is due to end on Monday evening. |
But the temporary truce, which was extended for three days on Friday, has had little effect on the ground, with both sides accusing the other of violating it. | But the temporary truce, which was extended for three days on Friday, has had little effect on the ground, with both sides accusing the other of violating it. |
Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in clashes in the east and a Russian state TV cameraman was also shot dead while he was reporting in the city of Donetsk. | Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in clashes in the east and a Russian state TV cameraman was also shot dead while he was reporting in the city of Donetsk. |
Deadline approaches | Deadline approaches |
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, agreed to work on "the adoption of an agreement on a bilateral ceasefire between Ukrainian authorities and separatists," the French presidency said in a statement. | On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, agreed to work on "the adoption of an agreement on a bilateral ceasefire between Ukrainian authorities and separatists," the French presidency said in a statement. |
"They have also agreed to work on the liberation of more hostages and prisoners and the organisation of "substantial tripartite negotiations," it added. | "They have also agreed to work on the liberation of more hostages and prisoners and the organisation of "substantial tripartite negotiations," it added. |
It came after a four-way teleconference between the two men, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | It came after a four-way teleconference between the two men, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
Mr Putin had earlier stressed the importance of extending the ceasefire, and called for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to play an "active role" in monitoring a truce. | |
However, the OSCE earlier said it was scaling back monitoring operations and freezing deployments to Ukraine's east. | |
President Poroshenko has come under pressure from protesters in the capital, Kiev, who want military operations against the rebels in the east to resume. | President Poroshenko has come under pressure from protesters in the capital, Kiev, who want military operations against the rebels in the east to resume. |
The ceasefire, which went into effect on 20 June, is due to expire at 22:00 (19:00 GMT) on Monday. | The ceasefire, which went into effect on 20 June, is due to expire at 22:00 (19:00 GMT) on Monday. |
The Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers are due to continue talks later on Monday, the French presidency said. | The Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers are due to continue talks later on Monday, the French presidency said. |
In other developments on Monday - | In other developments on Monday - |
Russia is under pressure from the European Union to use its influence with separatists in the east to de-escalate the conflict, the EU warning of "drastic measures" if it fails to do so. | Russia is under pressure from the European Union to use its influence with separatists in the east to de-escalate the conflict, the EU warning of "drastic measures" if it fails to do so. |
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko signed a landmark EU trade pact on Friday. The issue of whether Ukraine should lean more towards Russia or the EU was the trigger for the current crisis. | Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko signed a landmark EU trade pact on Friday. The issue of whether Ukraine should lean more towards Russia or the EU was the trigger for the current crisis. |
The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign the EU deal last year - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow. | The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign the EU deal last year - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow. |
Russia then annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, and separatists in the east declared independence from Ukraine. | Russia then annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, and separatists in the east declared independence from Ukraine. |
More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates. | More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates. |