A convoy of Russian trucks destined for eastern Ukraine remained stalled near the border here on Monday, as the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany reported that talks in Berlin had yielded no progress toward a cease-fire or a long-term political settlement.
The lack of progress on a diplomatic resolution came as the Ukrainian military continued to press its crackdown on pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine, who now retain an increasingly tenuous hold on the regional capitals of Luhansk and Donetsk, which shares a name with the smaller Russian city where the convoy is now parked.
The Ukrainian government’s advance on the rebels is raising pressure on President who has pledged to support Russians everywhere but has refused to acknowledge any direct military assistance to the separatists. On Sunday, Putin’s spokesman again denied sending any military aid to the rebels.
With the rebels’ defeat seeming increasingly inevitable, Russia has repeated its demand that President Poroshenko order a cease-fire.
The lack of progress on a diplomatic resolution came as the Ukrainian military continued to press its crackdown on pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine, who now retain an increasingly tenuous hold on the regional capitals of Luhansk and Donetsk, which shares a name with the smaller Russian city where the convoy is now parked.
The Ukrainian government’s advance on the rebels is raising pressure on President who has pledged to support Russians everywhere but has refused to acknowledge any direct military assistance to the separatists. On Sunday, Putin’s spokesman again denied sending any military aid to the rebels.
With the rebels’ defeat seeming increasingly inevitable, Russia has repeated its demand that President Poroshenko order a cease-fire.