We use your sign-up to provide content in ways that you consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The push for a new ceasefire in eastern Ukraine broke down late on Thursday, with Moscow and Kyiv blaming one another for the escalating tensions. Russia accused Ukraine of submitting absolutely absurd proposals, and Ukraine complained that all initiatives of the Ukrainian side were rejected by Vladimir Putin's government.
A statement from Ukraine's delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group TCG, which includes Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE, read: "Sadly, all initiatives of the Ukrainian side were rejected under contrived pretexts," according to a statement by the Russian Federation. Kyiv said Moscow had rejected proposals including prisoner swaps, reopening a checkpoint and expanding a joint communications centre.
Moscow, pointing out the proposal to add Germany and France to the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination, a group that is tasked with implementing ceasefire agreements, said that in such circumstances, the Donetsk, Lugansk separatists and the OSCE considered it impossible to continue talks. We are understanding of this decision. Ukrainian troops have fought Russian-backed forces in its east since 2014.
The tension between the two nations, who once were the two biggest republics of the Soviet Union, has deteriorated after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.