French President Francois Hollande, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk prior to their meeting with the Ukrainian President in Kiev on Feb. 5.(Photo: Sergei Supinsky, AFP/Getty Images)
LONDON — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are in Moscow Friday to push for a new peace plan for Ukraine.
While there, the two European leaders will meet with Russian President Vladmir Putin. Merkel and Hollande arrived in the Russian capital following talks Thursday in Kiev with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The renewed efforts to put a stop to fighting that has led to more than 5,300 deaths since April comes as President Obama decides whether to give lethal aid to Ukraine, a move that Moscow says would be a provocation and severely sour relations.
A previous peace deal between Kiev and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine — the Minsk agreement — is all but dead and clashes between the two groups have intensified in recent weeks. As a result, NATO has boosted its rapid response forces in the region.
Secretary of State John Kerry also met with Poroshenko in Kiev on Thursday.
"Let there be no doubt about who is blocking the prospects for peace here," Kerry said, referring to Moscow. Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russia was "ready for a constructive conversation." Moscow has consistently denied it is arming the separatists.
The Associated Press reported Friday that rebel leaders reached agreement with Ukrainian authorities to allow the evacuation of civilians from Debaltseve, a railway hub that's been the focus of recent fighting.
USA TODAY
Ukraine peace plan proposed amid pressure for lethal aid
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