Talks between the Ukrainians, Russians, pro-Russian separatists from eastern Ukraine and the OSCE have collapsed without agreement. The talks were
Talks between the Ukrainians, Russians, pro-Russian separatists from eastern Ukraine and the OSCE have collapsed without agreement.
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The talks were being held in Minsk, the Belarus capital, to try and end an upsurge in fighting in Ukraine that has shattered a ceasefire and led to heavy casualties on both sides, including civilians.
The hope had been that a new ceasefire could be arranged, but Ukraine’s representative, former president Leonid Kuchma, said the talks failed after the representatives of the self-styled Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk started making ultimatums, and refused point-blank to engage in a new ceasefire or discuss the withdrawal of heavy weapons.
He laid the blame for the breakdown squarely on the separatists’ shoulders, adding Ukraine would not accept any ultimatums.