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Ukraine crisis: Hollande and Merkel set for Putin talks | Ukraine crisis: Hollande and Merkel set for Putin talks |
(about 1 hour later) | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are meeting Russia's Vladimir Putin to try to end escalating fighting in Ukraine. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are meeting Russia's Vladimir Putin to try to end escalating fighting in Ukraine. |
Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel are taking to Moscow a peace proposal crafted in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Thursday, but details have not been released. | Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel are taking to Moscow a peace proposal crafted in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Thursday, but details have not been released. |
Meanwhile a truce has allowed civilians to leave Debaltseve, at the heart of the latest fighting in eastern Ukraine. | Meanwhile a truce has allowed civilians to leave Debaltseve, at the heart of the latest fighting in eastern Ukraine. |
Russia is accused of arming pro-Russian separatists - a claim it denies. | Russia is accused of arming pro-Russian separatists - a claim it denies. |
The Kremlin also rejects claims by Ukraine and the West that its regular troops are fighting alongside the rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | The Kremlin also rejects claims by Ukraine and the West that its regular troops are fighting alongside the rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
Clashes have left nearly 5,400 people dead since April, the UN says. | Clashes have left nearly 5,400 people dead since April, the UN says. |
A September ceasefire, signed in Minsk in Belarus, has failed to stop the violence. Since then the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers. | A September ceasefire, signed in Minsk in Belarus, has failed to stop the violence. Since then the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers. |
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev |
This may not be the last attempt to try to find a peaceful solution to the hostilities in eastern Ukraine, but there is a sense that the door is closing fast. | This may not be the last attempt to try to find a peaceful solution to the hostilities in eastern Ukraine, but there is a sense that the door is closing fast. |
On Thursday German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the West must see if there was still a chance to reach a settlement, before there was "complete loss of control" over the conflict. France's President Francois Hollande has said diplomacy could not "go on indefinitely." | On Thursday German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the West must see if there was still a chance to reach a settlement, before there was "complete loss of control" over the conflict. France's President Francois Hollande has said diplomacy could not "go on indefinitely." |
That Angela Merkel is travelling to Moscow can be seen as a positive sign - the German chancellor said she wouldn't meet Vladimir Putin without the concrete prospect of progress. | That Angela Merkel is travelling to Moscow can be seen as a positive sign - the German chancellor said she wouldn't meet Vladimir Putin without the concrete prospect of progress. |
But the roadblocks to a final peace - or even a lasting ceasefire - are formidable and many. Not least is the low level of trust among Ukrainian and Western officials for any promises coming from the Kremlin. | But the roadblocks to a final peace - or even a lasting ceasefire - are formidable and many. Not least is the low level of trust among Ukrainian and Western officials for any promises coming from the Kremlin. |
Mr Putin may be sincere in his peace proposals; or, many in Kiev and other capitals feel, he may just be buying time. | Mr Putin may be sincere in his peace proposals; or, many in Kiev and other capitals feel, he may just be buying time. |
Why is east Ukraine hit by conflict? | Why is east Ukraine hit by conflict? |
Ukraine 'can't stop Russian armour' | |
Before he left for Moscow on Friday, Mr Hollande said the goal of his visit was not just a ceasefire, but a "comprehensive agreement" - though Mrs Merkel said it was "totally open" whether that could be achieved. | Before he left for Moscow on Friday, Mr Hollande said the goal of his visit was not just a ceasefire, but a "comprehensive agreement" - though Mrs Merkel said it was "totally open" whether that could be achieved. |
Meanwhile US Vice-President Joe Biden accused Russia of "continuing to escalate the conflict" and "ignoring every agreement". | Meanwhile US Vice-President Joe Biden accused Russia of "continuing to escalate the conflict" and "ignoring every agreement". |
He was speaking in Brussels, where he is meeting top EU officials. | He was speaking in Brussels, where he is meeting top EU officials. |
He accused Mr Putin of continuing "to call for new peace plans as his tanks roll through the Ukrainian countryside". | He accused Mr Putin of continuing "to call for new peace plans as his tanks roll through the Ukrainian countryside". |
He said Russia could "not be allowed to redraw the map of Europe". | He said Russia could "not be allowed to redraw the map of Europe". |
Ukraine is also set to dominate an annual multi-lateral security conference in Munich. | Ukraine is also set to dominate an annual multi-lateral security conference in Munich. |
Convoys | Convoys |
The fighting has intensified in recent weeks after a rebel offensive, and a temporary truce was declared in Debaltseve on Friday, where Ukrainian forces are fighting to hold the town against surrounding rebels. | The fighting has intensified in recent weeks after a rebel offensive, and a temporary truce was declared in Debaltseve on Friday, where Ukrainian forces are fighting to hold the town against surrounding rebels. |
Convoys of buses travelled to the town on Friday to evacuate civilians who had been forced to shelter underground from the bombing. | Convoys of buses travelled to the town on Friday to evacuate civilians who had been forced to shelter underground from the bombing. |
They were escorted by monitors from the OSCE security watchdog, reported Reuters news agency. | They were escorted by monitors from the OSCE security watchdog, reported Reuters news agency. |
Washington is considering Ukrainian pleas for better weaponry to fend off the rebels, raising European fears of an escalation in the conflict and spurring the latest peace bid. | Washington is considering Ukrainian pleas for better weaponry to fend off the rebels, raising European fears of an escalation in the conflict and spurring the latest peace bid. |
On Thursday Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel examined the peace proposal with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, without releasing any details. | On Thursday Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel examined the peace proposal with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, without releasing any details. |
Major questions any plan would have to address include the route of any new ceasefire line - given the rebel advances of recent weeks - how to enforce it, and the future status of the conflict zone, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow. | Major questions any plan would have to address include the route of any new ceasefire line - given the rebel advances of recent weeks - how to enforce it, and the future status of the conflict zone, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow. |
Moscow says it is ready for "constructive dialogue" - though still denying any direct role in the conflict - while Kiev insists above all that Ukraine must remain united, our correspondent says. | Moscow says it is ready for "constructive dialogue" - though still denying any direct role in the conflict - while Kiev insists above all that Ukraine must remain united, our correspondent says. |
A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss "the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine". | A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss "the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine". |
Some 1.2 million Ukrainians have fled their homes since last April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea. | Some 1.2 million Ukrainians have fled their homes since last April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions following Russia's annexation of Crimea. |
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Have your say | Have your say |