Peace plan welcomed

THE leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France have “decisively” welcomed a new plan to broker a lasting ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin yesterday said the four heads of state spoke in a conference call on Tuesday. It said they had welcomed the plan, and expressed support for an earlier peace deal tabled by France and Germany.

That deal reduced hostilities in eastern Ukraine, which erupted after Russia’s annexation of the region of Crimea, but clashes have continued.