Leaders in Minsk for crucial Ukraine talks

Russian foreign minister signals some progress.

MINSK, BELARUS The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine negotiated into the early hours today to try to find a way to halt the fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 5,300 people.

The talks on ending the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russianbacked separatist rebels came amid intense anxiety over the sharp spike in fighting in recent weeks, as Europe nervously awaits word on whether Washington will send lethal aid to Ukraine and as Russia’s economy deteriorates under sanctions imposed by the West.

In a diplomatic blitz that began last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande visited Kiev and Moscow to speak to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin, paving the way for the talks in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

“The entire world is waiting to see whether the situation moves toward de-escalation, weapons pullback, cease-fire, or ... spins out of control,” Poroshenko said upon arriving.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled some progress, saying late Wednesday that the talks were “active, better than super.” But it was unclear when a decision might be announced — and how soon the shooting would stop if an agreement is reached.

A top rebel official, Andrei Purgin, told Russian television that it might take a day or more for hostilities to end even if a cease-fire is called.

Details of a possible peace deal haven’t been released, but key sticking points include:

■ Drawing a new line of division: Ukraine wants the same one that was agreed upon in September, while Russia wants a new line that reflects the rebels’ significant territorial gains since then.

■ Withdrawing Russian troops and equipment from eastern Ukraine: Russia says it does not have any troops and mili- tary hardware in the east, a stance scoffed at by Ukraine and NATO.

■ Securing the Ukraine-Russia border. Ukraine wants to regain control of its border with Russia to stem the flow of Russian fighters and weapons, while Russia says that’s up to the rebels who have captured some key border posts.

■ Giving the separatists more autonomy. Ukraine says it may offer them broad rights under Ukrainian law but Russia wants guarantees. Russia also wants Ukraine to end its financial blockade of the east.

At a news conference in Moscow, Lavrov said there was “notable progress” in the peace process, but gave no details. He said the most important goal of the talks would be to implement a cease-fire, but warned that Ukraine only could fully re-establish its control over the border with Russia if it offers a degree of autonomy to the east and lifts its economic blockade.

“To give away the Russian part of the border also would be to cut them (the rebels) off even from humanitarian help and allow them to be surrounded,” Lavrov said.