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Ukraine
crisis: Key peace talks in Minsk called off
A key round
of peace talks between Ukraine's government and pro-Russian rebels,
due to take place in Minsk on Friday, has been called off, Belarusian
officials say.
26
November, 2014
No
immediate reason was given by the Belarusian foreign ministry.
The
talks had begun on Wednesday to try to end the conflict in eastern
Ukraine which has left 4,700 dead.
A
ceasefire and framework peace deal were announced in Minsk in
September but neither has been properly observed.
Talks
agenda
The
latest talks also included Russia and the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Friday's
round had been expected to tackle issues including the withdrawal of
heavy weapons from the front line, the exchange of prisoners and
ending Ukraine's economic blockade of rebel-held areas.
Volunteers
sift through debris at the Cultural House in Donetsk, following
shelling on Wednesday
Belarusian
foreign ministry spokesman Dmitry Mironchik told Agence
France-Presse: "There will be no contact group meeting today,"
but he added that "Belarus is always ready to offer [Minsk] as a
negotiations venue."
Wednesday's
talks focused on troop withdrawals and aid, although no details of
any progress emerged.
A
day earlier, Ukraine's parliament had voted to work towards
membership of Nato, a move heavily criticised by Russia.
Russia's
Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov accused Nato members of
"trying to turn Ukraine into a front line of confrontation with
Russia".
Since
the conflict began in eastern Ukraine in April, 4,707 people have
lost their lives, according
to the UN.
Of that number 1,357 have died since the 5 September ceasefire was
agreed.
Pro-Russian
separatists took over the two eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk
after Moscow annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March, in a
move not recognised by Ukraine and its allies.
Ukrainian
forces and volunteers then mounted a military operation to recover
the areas.
The
latest attempt at a ceasefire began on 9 December but sporadic
violence has continued in both regions.
Ukraine:
the human cost
- 5,200,000 affected by conflict
- 4,707 people killed including 36 children
- 10,322 wounded including 102 children
- 542,080 people displaced inside Ukraine
- 597,956 refugees and asylum seekers outside Ukraine
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