U.S. Joins Europe in Effort to End Fighting in Ukraine
With the White House weighing whether to send arms to Ukraine, Western nations intensified efforts Thursday to bring an end to the fighting.
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and President François Hollande of France are traveling to Kiev on Thursday to hold talks with President Petro O. Poroschenko of Ukraine, officials from the two countries said. On Friday, the French and German leaders are to continue to Moscow, where they are to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
Mr. Hollande said that he and Ms. Merkel would present a new initiative to end the fighting and guarantee the “full territorial integrity” of Ukraine.
The German and French moves were announced as Secretary of State John Kerry arrived here for high level talks. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. prepared for parallel consultations on Friday with European leaders in Brussels.
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