Not a breakthrough but Russia and Ukraine start dialogue

(From left) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Paris on Dec 9, 2019. PHOTO: AFP
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BERLIN -Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to commit to a full and comprehensive implementation of a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine before the end of 2019, but there is no breakthrough on ending the five-year war that has so far taken around 13,000 lives.

Both leaders met for the first time at a summit on Monday (Dec 9), with the nine-hour talks brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris.

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