More from RFE/RL's News Desk:
A German government spokesman says the leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia will hold a summit on the Ukrainian crisis in Minsk on February 11.
The announcement follows a phone conversation early on February 8 between Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, Vladimir Putin, and Petro Poroshenko.
Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said the four leaders discussed further measures for a peace plan during what he described as an "extensive" call.
The talks are aimed at settling the 10-month armed conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
A newspaper report on February 8 cited German intelligence sources as saying as many as 50,000 people may have been killed in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on February 7 that 6,600 soldiers and civilians have been killed.
NEWS FLASH:
Germany: Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France aim to hold summit Wednesday in Minsk.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says there is no difference between the United States and Europe when it comes to Russia's involvement in Ukraine.
Speaking February 8 at an international security conference in Munich, Kerry denied the two sides were divided, saying the U.S. and Europe are "united" and "working closely together... in support of Ukraine."
He also warned that if Russia continued to destabilize eastern Ukraine, the West "will be forced to raise the costs on Russia and its proxies."
Kerry's comments come amid reports of mounting European opposition to potential U.S. plans to provide Kyiv with weapons.
Germany and France have both said supplying weapons to Ukraine will only prolong the war between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Donbas region.
By RFE/RL
Diplomatic efforts to defuse the conflict in eastern Ukraine continue on February 8.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to confer with the leaders of Germany and France by phone.
German Chancellor Angela Merkela and French President Francois Hollande traveled to Kyiv on February 5 and Moscow on February 6 to push a new peace plan.
More than 5,350 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels since April 2014.
A spike in bloodshed recently has prompted Washington to consider arming Ukraine, a move opposed by some European leaders.
At a security conference in Munich on February 7, Merkel said sending weapons to Kyiv "will not lead to the progress Ukraine needs."
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, speaking at the same conference, said Washington stood ready to provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself, saying: "Too many times, President Putin has promised peace and delivered tanks, troops, and weapons."