The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
54°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Foreign ministers agree on path to resumption of Ukrainian cease-fire

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, right foreground, talks to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second from left, as they leave the German Foreign Ministry for dinner together Wednesday in Berlin. (Associated Press)

BERLIN – Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France agreed Wednesday on a series of steps for a resumption of the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between government troops and pro-Russia separatists has taken more than 400 lives since April.

The steps include reopening talks no later than Saturday “with the goal of reaching an unconditional and mutually agreed sustainable cease-fire” to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine has increased since a much-violated 10-day cease-fire expired late Monday.

Russia supported the proposal to give Ukrainian border guards and OSCE representatives access to Russian territory to take part in controlling two border crossings once the cease-fire is in place. Border posts have become a key issue because Ukraine and the United States say military equipment and reinforcements are flowing across the border from Russia.

Associated Press