Hopes for Ukraine Peace Talks Resumption as Russia Softens
Momentum is building for a resumption of peace talks on Ukraine, after the European Union and United States noted an apparent softening of Russia’s stance towards the Kiev government and its conflict with pro-Moscow separatists.
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said a preparatory video conference should take place today and tomorrow between representatives of Kiev, Moscow, the rebels in eastern Ukraine and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. “I hope this group will be able to meet on Sunday in Minsk,” Mr Poroshenko said during a visit to Poland.
He made the announcement after a four-way call with the Russian, French and German leaders, in which the Kremlin said they agreed that talks on “implementing the Minsk pact” should resume “as soon as possible.” An agreement reached in the Belarusian capital in early September reduced but failed to halt clashes in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where fighting since April has killed more than 4,600 people and displaced about 1 million.
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