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Masters of Hardcore 06.03.2015 Kiev, Ukraine

By: Alex Kovalevych

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Masters of Hardcore 06.03.2015 Kiev, Ukraine - Video

A Ukrainian soldier patrols Sunday near Debaltseve, Ukraine. (Evgeniy Maloletka, The Associated Press)

MUNICH A peace proposal for Ukraine edged toward a possible breakthrough as the leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed Sunday to a joint summit alongside representatives of the pro-Russia separatists who have waged a bloody campaign in the Ukrainian east.

The four leaders agreed to the proposed summit scheduled for Wednesday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus during a four-way phone call Sunday.

The success of the summit, though, still appeared to hinge on further diplomatic talks Monday in Berlin, aimed at laying the groundwork for a "comprehensive settlement" of the crisis in Ukraine, where fighting has steadily worsened.

The German government announced the summit plans on the heels of whirlwind visits last week to Moscow and Kiev, Ukraine, by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Franois Hollande. The two leaders have launched a high-stakes diplomatic push to end an escalation of the fighting and to resolve a growing standoff between the West and Russia.

European and U.S. governments have accused Russia of subterfuge for denying its involvement in Ukraine even as the governments cite conclusive intelligence indicating that Russian weapons and disguised troops are fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Yet diplomats cautioned that stumbling blocks remain, including the issue of whether recent land gains made by separatists would be recognized as part of a cease-fire agreement.

And there is skepticism that Russia and the separatists would adhere to a deal. A previous accord reached in September which aimed to create a demilitarized zone and deliver more autonomy for the rebel-held lands was routinely violated before largely breaking down in recent weeks.

"Even after this weekend of intense negotiations, we are far away from a political solution of the Ukraine conflict," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in remarks on the last day of a major security summit in Munich.

Speaking in the Russian resort town of Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a qualified confirmation of the summit plans. He said the meeting would go ahead "if, by then, we have agreed upon a number of positions that were a subject of our intense discussions recently."

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Ukraine peace talks edge toward possible breakthrough

Less than two weeks ago, Russia and Ukraine signed a peace deal, brokered by France and Germany, which was meant to see the withdrawal of heavy weaponry by both sides from the eastern region of Ukraine, where fighting between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukraine military has been concentrated.

Speaking of the deal, Yatsenyuk alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "cheated and outplayed" those involved in peace talks, including Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, the leaders of France and Germany who helped broker the deal, "and the entire European Union."

Although he said he supported Poroshenko's efforts to try to find a solution, and that peace was needed for Ukraine and for the "free world," he added that Putin presented a "threat to the entire western civilization."

Read MorePutin says leaders have agreed on Ukraine ceasefire

The conflict, which started last spring, prompted the West to impose economic sanctions on Russia, which is believed to be supporting the rebels despite denying involvement. More than 5,000 people have died in the fighting so far, according to the United Nations.

In an effort to show they were honoring the truce, pro-Russia separatists Tuesday invited reporters to witness the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line in east Ukraine, as agreed under the cease-fire deal. But Ukraine accused the rebels of using the cover of withdrawal to reinforce for another advance, Reuters reported.

Speaking to CNBC in Kiev, Yatsenyuk said he was wary about Russia's intentions and that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not abiding by the ceasefire deal, known as "Minsk 2" as it was the second attempt to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Read MoreWhat is Russia's Vladimir Putin playing at?

"The Russian president hasn't executed any deal - either 'Minsk one' or 'Minsk two' - and Russian aggression severely affected Ukraine," he said, adding that he was "absolutely sure" the Ukrainians who wanted to join Russia had been affected by "Russian propaganda."

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Ukraine PM to Russia: 'Get out of our land'

ARTEMIVSK, Ukraine (AP) Russian-backed separatists mounted a vicious assault Friday in eastern Ukraine ahead of a weekend cease-fire deadline, pummeling a strategic railway hub with wave upon wave of shelling in a last-minute grab for territory. At least 26 people were killed across the region.

The fiercest confrontations focused on the government-held town of Debaltseve, a key transport center that has been on the receiving end of dozens of artillery and rocket salvos in the 24-hour period after the peace deal was sealed Thursday by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.

Associated Press reporters observed intense shelling Friday along the highway north of Debaltseve, which remains the town's only land link with the rest of government-controlled territory.

Ukrainian army armored vehicles ride on a road towards Debaltseve near the town of Artemivsk, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. The fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has continued despite the agreement reached by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Thursday. Much of the fighting had taken place near Debaltseve, a key transport hub that has been hotly contested in recent days. The leaders agreed to implement a cease-fire, set to take effect on Sunday, at one minute after midnight. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek/AP)

The deadline for the warring sides to halt hostilities is Sunday at one minute after midnight. Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted Petro Mekhed, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, as saying that separatist forces had been tasked with hoisting their flags over Debaltseve, as well as the key port city of Mariupol, before the cease-fire takes hold.

Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said 11 soldiers have been killed and 40 wounded across eastern Ukraine since the agreement was reached in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. At least eight civilians also have died in government-controlled territory, regional authorities loyal to Kiev said, while the rebels said seven civilians were killed in artillery attacks on the separatist-held cities of Luhansk and Horlivka.

Shells landed Friday as far as Artemivsk, a government-held town 25 miles behind the front line. Associated Press reporters saw the body of a child killed after rocket fire hit a kindergarten there, and regional officials said the child and one other civilian died in the attack.

In recent days, separatist fighters have nearly completely encircled Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve, where all but a few thousand civilians have fled the fighting.

Ukrainian government troops rest atop an armored vehicle by the road towards Debaltseve near the town of Artemivsk, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. The fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has continued despite the agreement reached by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Thursday. Much of the fighting had taken place near Debaltseve, a key transport hub that has been hotly contested in recent days. The leaders agreed to implement a cease-fire, set to take effect on Sunday, at one minute after midnight. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek/AP)

Ukraine says Debaltseve should remain in government control under the terms of a September peace deal. A copy of that agreement leaked to Ukrainian media shows the town lying on the government's side of the line of division agreed by both the rebels and Ukrainian officials.

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Ukraine battles persists ahead of cease-fire

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A man boils water for tea outside a damaged apartment building, disconnected from cooking gas and electricity, in Debaltseve, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. After weeks of relentless fighting, which inflicted severe damage to most buildings the embattled Ukrainian rail hub of Debaltseve fell last week to Russia-backed separatists. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

MOSCOW (AP) Cash-strapped Ukraine sought to buy time in its effort to ensure continued gas supplies from Russia, making a $15 million payment Friday to Moscow as it waits for international rescue loans to arrive.

But Moscow says the sum will cover only an additional day, leaving a potential gas cutoff looming Tuesday.

That increases the pressure on Ukraine to strike a deal at a meeting Monday with Russian officials in Brussels a showdown that comes amid rising fears in Europe that energy supplies could be threatened by a shutdown to Ukraine.

With Ukraine's economy on the brink of collapse and money from a 15.5 billion-euro ($17.5 billion) bailout deal from the International Monetary Fund that has not yet reached Ukrainian coffers, it is unclear how capable or how willing Kiev is to strike a long-term deal with Moscow.

Following a bruising dispute over prices and energy debt that raised fears of supply disruptions once again in Europe in the middle of winter, Russia and Ukraine signed a deal in October requiring Kiev to pay in advance for gas shipments.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other government officials warned earlier this week that Russia would cut off supplies to Ukraine by the end of the month unless Kiev makes the due pre-payments.

Ukraine, meanwhile, accuses Russia of failing to abide by its contractual obligations. On Friday, Ukraine's state-run Naftogaz said Gazprom had for several days not been supplying it with the amount of gas for which it has paid.

"Naftogaz expects to receive the declared amount of gas paid for no more and no less, and through agreed gas entry points," said company spokeswoman Alyona Osmolovskaya.

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Ukraine says it pays for gas, Russia demands more