LONDON — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are in Moscow Friday to push for a new peace plan for Ukraine.While there, the two European leaders will discuss with Russian President Vladmir Putin a plan based on a detailed proposal he made. Merkel and Hollande arrived in the Russian capital following talks Thursday in Kiev with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko."The French president and I have decided to do something against this escalation and to use all our power with direct visits to Kiev and to Moscow today to stop the bloodshed as soon as possible and to fill the Minsk agreement with life," Merkel told reporters in Germany before departing for Moscow."We are convinced that there's no military solution to this conflict," she said. "But we also know that it's completely open whether we will manage to achieve a cease-fire with these talks. We don't know if this will happen today or whether further talks are necessary, whether these will be long or short talks in Moscow."Western diplomats told the Associated Press the two leaders are going with a counter-proposal to a detailed nine-page letter Putin gave them earlier. The counter proposal presents something more acceptable to Ukraine and Europe, such as limited autonomy for eastern Ukraine including protections for language, culture and local taxes.U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden on Friday questioned Putin's commitment to peace in Ukraine."(Putin) continues to call for new peace plans as his troops roll through the Ukrainian countryside and he absolutely ignores every agreement that his country has signed in the past," Biden said during a visit to the European Union headquarters in Brussels.The renewed efforts to put a stop to fighting that has led to more than 5,300 deaths since April comes as President Obama decides whether to give lethal aid to Ukraine, a move that Moscow says would be a provocation and severely sour relations.USA TODAYKremlin spokesman says Putin does not have Asperger'sA previous peace deal between Kiev and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine — the Minsk agreement — is all but dead and clashes between the two groups have intensified in recent weeks. As a result, NATO has boosted its rapid response forces in the region.Secretary of State John Kerry also met with Poroshenko in Kiev on Thursday."Let there be no doubt about who is blocking the prospects for peace here," Kerry said, referring to Moscow.Moscow has consistently denied it is arming the separatists. Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia was "ready for a constructive conversation."The AP reported Friday that rebel leaders reached agreement with Ukrainian authorities to allow the evacuation of civilians from Debaltseve, a railway hub that's been the focus of recent fighting.
LONDON — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are in Moscow Friday to push for a new peace plan for Ukraine, USA TODAY reports.
While there, the two European leaders will discuss with Russian President Vladmir Putin a plan based on a detailed proposal he made. Merkel and Hollande arrived in the Russian capital following talks Thursday in Kiev with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"The French president and I have decided to do something against this escalation and to use all our power with direct visits to Kiev and to Moscow today to stop the bloodshed as soon as possible and to fill the Minsk agreement with life," Merkel told reporters in Germany before departing for Moscow.
"We are convinced that there's no military solution to this conflict," she said. "But we also know that it's completely open whether we will manage to achieve a cease-fire with these talks. We don't know if this will happen today or whether further talks are necessary, whether these will be long or short talks in Moscow."
Western diplomats told the Associated Press the two leaders are going with a counter-proposal to a detailed nine-page letter Putin gave them earlier. The counter proposal presents something more acceptable to Ukraine and Europe, such as limited autonomy for eastern Ukraine including protections for language, culture and local taxes.
U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden on Friday questioned Putin's commitment to peace in Ukraine.
"(Putin) continues to call for new peace plans as his troops roll through the Ukrainian countryside and he absolutely ignores every agreement that his country has signed in the past," Biden said during a visit to the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
The renewed efforts to put a stop to fighting that has led to more than 5,300 deaths since April comes as President Obama decides whether to give lethal aid to Ukraine, a move that Moscow says would be a provocation and severely sour relations.
A previous peace deal between Kiev and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine — the Minsk agreement — is all but dead and clashes between the two groups have intensified in recent weeks. As a result, NATO has boosted its rapid response forces in the region.
Secretary of State John Kerry also met with Poroshenko in Kiev on Thursday.
"Let there be no doubt about who is blocking the prospects for peace here," Kerry said, referring to Moscow.
Moscow has consistently denied it is arming the separatists. Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia was "ready for a constructive conversation."
The AP reported Friday that rebel leaders reached agreement with Ukrainian authorities to allow the evacuation of civilians from Debaltseve, a railway hub that's been the focus of recent fighting.
