Talks in Paris between Ukraine and Russia aim to end eastern conflict

The leaders of Russia and Ukraine will hold their first face-to-face talks in an attempt to tackle five and a half years of conflict in east Ukraine.

More than 13,000 people have died in fighting between government forces and rebels backed by Russia.

Now there is hope of a breakthrough after Ukraine withdrew from three areas and accepted a series of conditions.

Thousands took to the streets of Kyiv demanding that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy remain firm ahead of a meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin

President Zelensky will join Russia’s Putin in Paris, along with the leaders of France and Germany.

For recently installed Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, the encounter with his more experienced Russian counterpart will be a key moment in his efforts to end more than five years of conflict with Kremlin-backed separatists in the Donbass region.

Via BBC