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Ukraine ceasefire talks as West plans Russia sanctions Ukraine ceasefire talks as West plans Russia sanctions
(about 2 hours later)
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has raised hopes that a deal could be struck with Russia to end fighting in the east of his country. Talks on bringing peace to eastern Ukraine are set to begin, with the conflicting sides seeking agreement on a ceasefire.
Ukraine, Russia and pro-Russia rebels are set to begin afternoon talks in Belarus. However, there are new reports of shelling near the town of Mariupol. Ukraine, Russia and pro-Russia rebels are due to begin afternoon talks in Belarus. However, there are new reports of shelling near the town of Mariupol.
Meanwhile, Western countries are preparing to tighten sanctions on Russia in case talks come to nothing. Meanwhile, Western countries are preparing to announce a tightening of sanctions on Russia.
They are attending the second day of a Nato summit in Newport, Wales.They are attending the second day of a Nato summit in Newport, Wales.
The West accuses Russia of sending arms and troops to back the rebels in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies this.The West accuses Russia of sending arms and troops to back the rebels in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies this.
More than 2,600 people have died during the five-month conflict.More than 2,600 people have died during the five-month conflict.
Leaders will also discuss the growing threat of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. The enhanced sanctions are expected to target Russian banking, energy and defence, as well as what British sources call "Putin cronies".
An IS video released on Tuesday showed the killing of US journalist Steven Sotloff, just days after the group beheaded another American reporter, James Foley. But the UK says the sanctions will probably go ahead whether or not a ceasefire is agreed at the talks in the Belarus capital, Minsk.
In the latest video, an IS militant is seen threatening to kill a UK hostage, aid worker David Haines, who was seized in March 2013 in Syria's Idlib province. "There is a great degree of scepticism about whether this action will materialise, whether the ceasefire will be real," UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Nato had pledged "seriously" to examine any plea by Iraq to fight IS militants. "We can always take the sanctions off afterwards. I don't think we want to be distracted from our determination to impose further sanctions in response to Russia's major military adventure into Ukraine by these noises off about a possible ceasefire."
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that his country was deciding whether to arm the Kurds. President Poroshenko on Thursday confirmed that there was a chance that a peace deal could be signed in Minsk later on Friday, leading to a ceasefire within hours.
Also on the agenda is the situation in Afghanistan, where the alliance is due to end its combat operations at the end of this year.
However, there is no government in place in Kabul to complete the handover because the outcome of presidential elections earlier this year is still being contested.
Taliban militants launched a deadly attack on a government compound on Thursday.
'The highest price'
At the Nato summit, EU and US leaders are preparing to finalise a package of sanctions that would target Russian banking, energy and defence.
More so-called "Putin cronies" would have travel bans imposed on them, sources say.
However, the BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith says the sanctions are likely to go ahead whether or not a ceasefire is agreed.
Western leaders remain sceptical that a ceasefire can hold, but are prepared to remove the sanctions if it does, our correspondent says.
President Poroshenko on Thursday confirmed that there was a chance that a deal could be signed in Minsk later on Friday, leading to a ceasefire within hours.
Talks in the Belarusian capital are expected to begin at 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT), Mr Poroshenko said.Talks in the Belarusian capital are expected to begin at 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT), Mr Poroshenko said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed hope that a deal can be agreed.Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed hope that a deal can be agreed.
But Mr Poroshenko was careful not to sound too upbeat.But Mr Poroshenko was careful not to sound too upbeat.
"Ukraine is paying the highest price," the president said, "including lives of soldiers and innocent civilians. As president of Ukraine I must do my best to stop it.""Ukraine is paying the highest price," the president said, "including lives of soldiers and innocent civilians. As president of Ukraine I must do my best to stop it."
Rebel leaders were cautious as well.Rebel leaders were cautious as well.
"In the past we had some ceasefire agreements Poroshenko didn't honour," Oleg Tsaryov, a senior rebel official, told Reuters news agency in Donetsk."In the past we had some ceasefire agreements Poroshenko didn't honour," Oleg Tsaryov, a senior rebel official, told Reuters news agency in Donetsk.
Mr Rasmussen also sounded a note of caution, warning that previous Russian peace offerings had turned out to be smokescreens. Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was also careful not to raise hopes.
It was not certain Mr Putin would stop destabilising Ukraine, he said.
"Based on experience we have to be cautious," Mr Rasmussen said. "But... if we are witnessing a genuine effort to find a political solution, I would welcome it.""Based on experience we have to be cautious," Mr Rasmussen said. "But... if we are witnessing a genuine effort to find a political solution, I would welcome it."
On Wednesday, Mr Putin announced a seven-point plan, including a halt to "active offensive operations" by the Ukrainian military and pro-Russia rebels, international ceasefire monitoring, unconditional prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid corridors.On Wednesday, Mr Putin announced a seven-point plan, including a halt to "active offensive operations" by the Ukrainian military and pro-Russia rebels, international ceasefire monitoring, unconditional prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid corridors.
Mariupol threatened Mariupol shelling
The fighting on the ground in eastern Ukraine, however, is not abating, especially in areas where Ukrainian forces are under fire from pro-Russian rebels and are being beaten back.The fighting on the ground in eastern Ukraine, however, is not abating, especially in areas where Ukrainian forces are under fire from pro-Russian rebels and are being beaten back.
Reports from the region early on Thursday suggested fighting had broken out again near the city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea. Fighting is continuing near the city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea. Shelling could be heard to the northeast of the city.
Two civilians were injured by apparent shelling on Friday morning, the BBC's Fergal Keane reports from Mariupol. Two civilians were injured by apparent shelling on Friday morning, the BBC's Fergal Keane reports from Mariupol. Ukrainian fighter jets hit rebel positions near the city.
Our correspondent says that the situation is confused and the atmosphere volatile. Ukrainian government forces have recently suffered losses of territory in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around Mariupol.
Meanwhile, Nato leaders on Thursday agreed new financing to aid Ukraine's military and provide better medical treatment for wounded soldiers. Nato leaders in Wales are also discussing the growing threat of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.
Ukrainian government forces have recently suffered several losses of territory in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around Mariupol. An IS video released on Tuesday showed the killing of US journalist Steven Sotloff, just days after the group beheaded another American reporter, James Foley.
In the latest video, an IS militant is seen threatening to kill a UK hostage, aid worker David Haines, who was seized in March 2013 in Syria's Idlib province.
Mr Rasmussen said Nato had pledged "seriously" to examine any plea by Iraq to fight IS militants.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that his country was deciding whether to arm the Kurds.
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.