Pro-Russia rebels and the Ukrainian authorities agreed Friday on a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine as German and French leaders prepared to bring their peace plan to Moscow.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin a day after discussing their proposals with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The diplomatic blitz comes amid fierce fighting that prompted Washington to consider providing the beleaguered Ukrainian military with lethal weapons, in turn sparking European fears of even wider hostilities.
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A disenchanted Donetsk resident had little hope for the success of the new European peace initiative. “I don’t expect anything, I’m so tired of this, it has been going on for so long,” said Esfira Papunova, a pensioner.
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Balint Szlanko in Donetsk, Ukraine contributed to this report.
