Ukraine talks in Minsk yield no deal, diplomat says
Story highlights Saturday's talks in Minsk went for two hours but yielded no signatures, diplomat says Ukrainian military says fighting continues near Debaltseve
The talks in Belarus' capital, Minsk, ended "with no signature" on any proposals "after a couple of hours (of) discussions" relating to the bitter conflict that has killed thousands of people in eastern Ukraine, the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Discussions were unlikely to resume on Sunday, according to the diplomat.
"Differences were very wide and the atmosphere was described as not fruitful to agreement or cooperation," the diplomat said.
At the meeting were representatives of the Ukrainian government, Russian government and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, as well as representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego, according to Ukraine's national news agency, Ukrinform.
The talks, which came on a week when fighting escalated in eastern Ukraine, had been expected to start Friday but were delayed.
A previous ceasefire agreement negotiated in Minsk in September crumbled long ago.
In the past 24 hours, 15 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 33 were wounded, Ukraine's National Defense and Security Council said in its daily update on the situation.
The town of Vuglegirsk was the focus of the fiercest fighting on Saturday, the NDSC said, adding that separatist forces are trying to seize it so they can attack the town of Debaltseve afterward.
Debaltseve, northeast of Donetsk city, has been the scene of fierce fighting in recent days as separatist forces seek to surround Ukrainian troops.