Merkel and Hollande to fly to Moscow in new effort to resolve Ukraine crisis

Angela Merkel and François Hollande have announced a surprise European diplomatic intervention over east Ukraine, with the pair arriving in Kiev on Thursday and due in Moscow on Friday in an attempt to end the violence that has cost more than 5,000 lives.

“Together with Angela Merkel we have decided to take a new initiative,” Hollande told a news conference. “We will make a new proposal to solve the conflict which will be based on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.” It will be Merkel’s first trip to Russia since the outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine began.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, is also in Kiev to meet Ukraine’s leaders .... http://www.theguardian.com