2015-02-07 14:46:00

France, Germany, Unveil Peace Plan In Moscow


(Vatican Radio) Moscow says Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have agreed to forge a plan for peace in Ukraine. While the talks in Moscow were underway, many residents were evacuated from a key battle zone in eastern Ukraine.

Listen to the report by correspondent Stefan Bos: 

The French and German leaders agreed with President Putin that they and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko would discuss their peace plan Sunday in a four way telephone call.

It reportedly includes some autonomy for eastern Ukraine with special protections for the Russian language, culture and local taxes.

Friday's talks, which lasted for hours, was also aimed at avoiding a possible proxy war between Russia and the United States. 

Leaders in Europe are concerned about a further escalation of the conflict as Washington may deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine's military, which is battling Russian-backed separatists.

RUSSIAN VOLUNTEERS

Moscow admits "Russian volunteers" are fighting in Ukraine, but strongly denies it send weapons and troops to the rebels.

Putin spokesman Dmitri Peskov called the talks with the German and French leaders "constructive and substantive" adding that "Work is under way to prepare the text of a possible joint document to implement

the Minsk peace agreements."

Elsewhere dozens of buses rolled down a highway to rescue those trapped in the railway hub town of Debaltseve where government forces are nearly encircled by pro-Russian rebels.

The evacuation took place amid a brief truce. 

Yet some three thousand of the 25,000 residents here stay behind to stay with or bury their loved ones, or because they have no place to go in this freezing, muddy winder.    








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