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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. |
| Ahead of their talks, the US Vice-President Joe Biden accused Russia of "continuing to escalate the conflict" and "ignoring every agreement". | Ahead of their talks, the US Vice-President Joe Biden accused Russia of "continuing to escalate the conflict" and "ignoring every agreement". |
| A temporary truce has reportedly begun to allow civilians to leave 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. |
| 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? |
| Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel are taking a peace proposal crafted in Kiev to Moscow, but the details have not been released. | Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel are taking a peace proposal crafted in Kiev to Moscow, but the details have not been released. |
| The two leaders - who have arrived in Moscow - are due to meet Mr Putin later in the evening. | |
| Before he left, 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, 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. |
| Mr Biden ramped up the pressure on Moscow in comments from Brussels, where he is meeting top EU officials. | Mr Biden ramped up the pressure on Moscow in comments from 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 were seen heading to the town on Friday to evacuate civilians who have been forced to shelter underground from the bombing. | Convoys of buses were seen heading to the town on Friday to evacuate civilians who have 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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". | 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 |