Ukraine's foreign minister looking on the bright side:
Here's an excerpt from the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement via Facebook. Moscow doesn't miss a trick, conveniently describing it as a "Ukrainian domestic crisis" and listing Ukraine last:
"The issues discussed related to the international efforts to help resolve the Ukrainian domestic crisis. Ministers reviewed the situation in Ukraine from all aspects, with particular attention to the the cessation as soon as possible of hostilities, ensuring control of the border, delivery of humanitarian aid to southeastern Ukraine, and creation of conditions for an early start to the process of political resettlement.
"Some progress has been made on all these issues. It was agreed that the dialogue would be continued in this format, the results of which could be presentation of concrete proposals for consideration by the leaders of Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine."
Reuters quotes Russia's Foreign Ministry as saying that "certain progress" was made at last night's talks. It added that there was agreement on more talks that could produce proposals to deescalate the situation in Ukraine.
That sounds to have fallen short of Steinmeier's hope for "a road map toward a sustainable cease-fire and a framework for effective border controls."
A wrap-up of the overnight meeting between the Russian, Ukrainian, French, and German foreign ministers, from our newsroom:
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said Ukraine crisis talks in Berlin were "difficult" but made "some progress."
Steinmeier spoke early on August 18 after a five-hour meeting with his counterparts from Russia, Ukraine, and France -- Sergei Lavrov, Pavlo Klimkin, and Laurent Fabius.
“I think and I hope that we have made some progress on certain points," Steinmeier said.
AFP news agency quoted a French diplomatic source as saying, "Despite the difficult climate, we have registered some progress."
Steinmeier said the ministers will report back to their respective heads of government and “possibly” decide on August 18-19 how to continue the talks.
He said the ministers focused on how to bring about a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, where government forces are battling pro-Russian separatists, and how to improve border controls along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
That concludes our live blogging for Sunday, August 17. Follow our continuing coverage HERE of events in Ukraine and throughout our broadcast region.
It's so hard to bring separatists to heel like you used to.
The pro-Russian side escalating further. This morning separatists downed another military jet, a major column of tanks and armed vehicles was said to have been spotted, now this...