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| Ukraine crisis: Key peace talks in Minsk called off | Ukraine crisis: Key peace talks in Minsk called off |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A key round of peace talks between Ukraine's government and pro-Russian rebels, due to take place in Minsk on Friday, has been called off, Belarusian officials say. | A key round of peace talks between Ukraine's government and pro-Russian rebels, due to take place in Minsk on Friday, has been called off, Belarusian officials say. |
| No immediate reason was given by the Belarusian foreign ministry. | No immediate reason was given by the Belarusian foreign ministry. |
| The talks had begun on Wednesday to try to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine which has left 4,700 dead. | The talks had begun on Wednesday to try to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine which has left 4,700 dead. |
| A ceasefire and framework peace deal were announced in Minsk in September but neither has been properly observed. | A ceasefire and framework peace deal were announced in Minsk in September but neither has been properly observed. |
| Nato vote | |
| The latest talks also included Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). | |
| Friday's round had been expected to tackle issues including the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line, the exchange of prisoners and ending Ukraine's economic blockade of rebel-held areas. | Friday's round had been expected to tackle issues including the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line, the exchange of prisoners and ending Ukraine's economic blockade of rebel-held areas. |
| Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman Dmitry Mironchik told Agence France-Presse: "There will be no contact group meeting today," but he added that "Belarus is always ready to offer [Minsk] as a negotiations venue." | |
| Wednesday's talks focused on troop withdrawals and aid, although no details of any progress emerged. | |
| A day earlier, Ukraine's parliament had voted to work towards membership of Nato, a move heavily criticised by Russia. | |
| Russia's Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov accused Nato members of "trying to turn Ukraine into a front line of confrontation with Russia". | |
| Since the conflict began in eastern Ukraine in April, 4,707 people have lost their lives, according to the UN. Of that number 1,357 have died since the 5 September ceasefire was agreed. | |
| Pro-Russian separatists took over the two eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk after Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March, in a move not recognised by Ukraine and its allies. | |
| Ukrainian forces and volunteers then mounted a military operation to recover the areas. | |
| The latest attempt at a ceasefire began on 9 December but sporadic violence has continued in both regions. | |
| Ukraine: the human cost | |
| Source: United Nations 16 December |