MINSK: Peace talks to thrash out a truce agreement between pro-Russian rebels and Ukraine ended without a deal on Saturday, Kiev’s representative at the talks in Minsk said.

Former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma told Interfax Ukraine news agency the talks had been “thwarted” after top rebel leaders stayed away and their negotiators refused to discuss a plan for an immediate ceasefire. The talks came as Ukrainian forces suffered their highest one-day loss since the September truce, with 15 soldiers killed and 30 wounded, said Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak.

Kuchma accused the insurgents’ representatives of also putting forward “ultimatums” at the four-hour talks without giving anymore details.

The negotiator for the rebel Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, however, blamed Kiev for causing the collapse of the talks and said insurgent leaders would only sign a deal if Kiev’s forces halt fire first, Russian news wires reported.

The sit-down in the Belarussian capital was aimed at halting fierce battles between government forces and separatists that have claimed scores of lives in recent days.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a three-way phone call, urging the warring factions to agree a ceasefire at peace talks, the Kremlin said.

Fighting is focused on the strategic transport hub of Debaltseve, some 50 kilometres from rebel bastion Donetsk.

Ukaine’s defence minister on Saturday said the rebels have taken “partial” control of the town, but Kiev denies separatist claims that they have surrounded some 8,000 Ukrainian troops.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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