Ukraine crisis: Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande fly to Russia for peace talks – live

‘German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande are due to present a new European plan for ending fighting in Ukraine to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this afternoon, after visiting Ukraine on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said talks with Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande late Thursday raised “hope for a ceasefire” after the duo jetted into Kiev in an attempt yet to resolve the ten-month conflict.

The diplomatic push followed a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry to Ukraine yesterday, as Washington mulls supplying Ukraine with arms to battle pro-Russian rebels.’

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