A breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine hostilities may be in sight. Talks began between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel accompanied by French President Francois Hollande. The two European leaders had discussed the proposal with Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko earlier. Details of the proposals are not known but the intention is to salvage the peace plan agreed last year in Belarus. The participants are aware that the first step should be a ceasefire. But that is not enough as there is need for a global solution. However, the ceasefire should be a good beginning as fighting between rebels and the Kiev government has escalated in eastern Ukraine. The flare-up has threatened Europe’s security and prompted the US to give lethal weapons to Ukraine. France and Germany do not like it. Russia has always denied that it supplies arms to the rebels in Ukraine. But the US commander of NATO would not buy it.
Merkel along with Hollande have said that they would make all efforts to stop the bloodshed as a military solution will not do. But they have denied that they are prepared to offer more territory to the separatists in Ukraine. On the other hand, US vice president Joe Biden does not believe that Putin wants peace. It seems that the US and European powers are not in agreement which casts a shadow over peace prospects in the region. Germany is obviously driven by its dependence on Russia for oil and gas. Foreign ministers of Russia Ukraine, Germany and France are expected to attend the Munich Security Conference. But Washington will have the last word.
