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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)
French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to hold talks in Moscow to try to end escalating fighting in east Ukraine.French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to hold talks in Moscow to try to end escalating fighting in east Ukraine.
Their meeting with President Vladimir Putin follows urgent talks in Kiev, where a new peace plan was presented. Their meeting with President Vladimir Putin follows talks in Kiev, where a peace plan was presented, the details of which have not been released.
A temporary truce has reportedly been declared to allow some civilian evacuations in Debaltseve, at the heart of the current fighting. A temporary truce has reportedly begun to allow civilians to leave Debaltseve, at the heart of the current fighting.
Moscow is accused of arming pro-Russian separatists - a claim it denies.Moscow is accused of arming pro-Russian separatists - a claim it denies.
Russia also rejects claims by Ukraine and the West that its regular troops are fighting alongside the rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.Russia 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.
As a result, a September ceasefire ,signed in Minsk, Belarus, is now in tatters. As a result, a September ceasefire, signed in Minsk, Belarus, is now in tatters - and since then the rebels have seized more ground, raising alarm in Kiev and among Ukraine's backers.
Ukraine is also set to dominate an annual multi-lateral security conference in Munich, and meetings between US Vice-President Joe Biden and top EU officials in Brussels. Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev
US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was also in Kiev, said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but would not close its eyes to Russian aggression. 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.
'Hopes for ceasefire' On Thursday German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the West must see if there was still a chance to reach a negotiated settlement, before there was "complete loss of control" over the conflict. France's President Francois Hollande has said diplomacy cannot "go on indefinitely."
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 to hold the town against surrounding rebels. That Angela Merkel is travelling to Moscow can be seen as a positive sign - the German chancellor said she wouldn't meet with 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.
Mr Putin may be sincere in his peace proposals; or, many in Kiev and other capitals feel, he may just be buying time.
Ukraine will also dominate an annual multi-lateral security conference in Munich, and meetings between US Vice-President Joe Biden and top EU officials in Brussels. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was also in Kiev, said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but would not close its eyes to Russian aggression.
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 were seen heading to the town on Friday to evacuate civilians who have been forced to shelter from the bombing underground.Convoys of buses were seen heading to the town on Friday to evacuate civilians who have been forced to shelter from the bombing underground.
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.
Mr Holland and Mrs Merkel are due to meet Mr Putin in Moscow at about 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT).Mr Holland and Mrs Merkel are due to meet Mr Putin in Moscow at about 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
On Thursday, the two leaders examined the plan with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, without releasing any details.On Thursday, the two leaders examined the plan 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, 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.
The fact that Mrs Merkel has agreed to come to the Russian capital for the first time since this conflict began suggests she sees some hope of compromise, our correspondent says. 'Tanks crossing the border'
Moscow says it is ready for "constructive dialogue" - while still denying any direct role in the conflict - while Kiev insists above all that Ukraine must remain united, our correspondent says.
The fact that Mrs Merkel has agreed to come to the Russian capital for the first time since this conflict began suggests she sees some hope of compromise, correspondents say.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin tweeted late on Thursday: "Good mtg of Normandy Troika. Minsk agts [agreements]- roadmap to peace&territorial integrity of Ukraine. Specific steps 2 ensure implementation discussed."Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin tweeted late on Thursday: "Good mtg of Normandy Troika. Minsk agts [agreements]- roadmap to peace&territorial integrity of Ukraine. Specific steps 2 ensure implementation discussed."
A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss "the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine", without elaborating.A spokesman for the Kremlin said Mr Putin would discuss "the fastest possible end to the civil war in south-eastern Ukraine", without elaborating.
'Reviewing options' But on Thursday John Kerry said the US wanted a diplomatic solution but could not close its eyes "to tanks crossing the border [into Ukraine] from Russia".
Speaking earlier on Thursday at a joint news conference with Mr Kerry, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said: "We need to get peace. But we will never consider anything that undermines territorial integrity... of Ukraine".
Mr Kerry accused Russia of violating Ukraine's sovereignty, saying that Russia had been acting with "impunity", crossing the Ukrainian border "at will with weapons [and] personnel".
"We are choosing a peaceful solution through diplomacy - but you cannot have a one-sided peace," Mr Kerry said.
The US is currently only providing "non-lethal" assistance, like night-vision goggles and body armour.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said any decision by the US to supply weapons to Ukraine would "inflict colossal damage to Russian-American relations".
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.ukAre you in eastern Ukraine? Have you been affected by events? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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