Ukraine ceasefire talks as West plans Russia sanctions

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On the tense frontlines in eastern Ukraine talk of a ceasefire is just that, as Fergal Keane reports

Talks on bringing peace to eastern Ukraine are set to begin, with the conflicting sides seeking agreement on a ceasefire.

Ukraine, Russia and pro-Russia rebels are due to begin afternoon talks in Belarus. However, there are new reports of shelling near the town of Mariupol.
Meanwhile, Western countries are preparing to announce a tightening of sanctions on Russia.
They are attending the second day of a Nato summit in Newport, Wales.
The West accuses Russia of sending arms and troops to back the rebels in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies this.
More than 2,600 people have died during the five-month conflict.
The enhanced sanctions are expected to target Russian banking, energy and defence, as well as what British sources call "Putin cronies".
But the UK says the sanctions will probably go ahead whether or not a ceasefire is agreed at the talks in the Belarus capital, Minsk.

Nato leaders in Wales will be watching closely the outcome of the peace talks in Belarus

Pro-Russian rebels are widely reported to be forcing the Ukrainian army into retreat in parts of the east

"There is a great degree of scepticism about whether this action will materialise, whether the ceasefire will be real," UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said.
"We can always take the sanctions off afterwards. I don't think we want to be distracted from our determination to impose further sanctions in response to Russia's major military adventure into Ukraine by these noises off about a possible ceasefire."
President Poroshenko on Thursday confirmed that there was a chance that a peace deal could be signed in Minsk later on Friday, leading to a ceasefire within hours.
Talks in the Belarusian capital are expected to begin at 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT), Mr Poroshenko said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed hope that a deal can be agreed.
But Mr Poroshenko was careful not to sound too upbeat.

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Ukraine's President Poroshenko: "Stability and security brutally undermined by Russian aggression"

"Ukraine is paying the highest price," the president said, "including lives of soldiers and innocent civilians. As president of Ukraine I must do my best to stop it."
Rebel leaders were cautious as well.
"In the past we had some ceasefire agreements Poroshenko didn't honour," Oleg Tsaryov, a senior rebel official, told Reuters news agency in Donetsk.

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How the Ukraine crisis has played out so far - in two minutes

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was also careful not to raise hopes.
"Based on experience we have to be cautious," Mr Rasmussen said. "But... if we are witnessing a genuine effort to find a political solution, I would welcome it."
On Wednesday, Mr Putin announced a seven-point plan, including a halt to "active offensive operations" by the Ukrainian military and pro-Russia rebels, international ceasefire monitoring, unconditional prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid corridors.
Mariupol shelling The fighting on the ground in eastern Ukraine, however, is not abating, especially in areas where Ukrainian forces are under fire from pro-Russian rebels and are being beaten back.
Fighting is continuing near the city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea. Shelling could be heard to the northeast of the city.