Ukraine-Russia peace talks fail to provide solution to conflict

Talks between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia have ended without a major breakthrough toward ending fighting between government forces and pro-Moscow separatists. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin sat down for one-on-one talks in Belarus, hours after Kiev said it had captured 10 Russian paratroopers on its territory. Poroshenko said there were “some results” but there seemed to be no significant compromises to help end four months of fighting.

We, Russia, can’t substantively discuss conditions of a ceasefire, of agreements between Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk. That’s not our business, it’s up to Ukraine itself.

President Vladimir Putin

Russia has long been accused by Kiev of backing the separatists, charges Moscow has repeatedly denied. Putin said he would “do everything” to help a future peace process but did little to ease tensions when he shrugged off the claims about the paratroopers. “They were patrolling the border and could have ended up on Ukrainian territory. I am hoping that there won’t be any problems with the Ukrainian side over this case.” Putin said.

A road map will be prepared in order to achieve as soon as possible a ceasefire regime which absolutely must be bilateral in character.

President Petro Poroshenko

World ukraine