Europe, 12th February, 2015 :Â
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents have been meeting all night in Belarus to try to secure a peace deal.
Few details have emerged about their four-way meeting with the leaders of France and Germany. But a Ukrainian presidential aide posted on Facebook that there was a battle of nerves.
Before the talks began, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said achieving a ceasefire was essential.
Thousands of people have been killed in the fighting in the east of Ukraine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are leading the peace initiative in Minsk.
There was little warmth as Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Mr Poroshenko.
Russia has been accused of arming and reinforcing pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine – a claim it denies.
The talks are set to focus on securing a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a demilitarised zone.
Source : BBC
