Talks between the foreign ministers of Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and France have produced no deal on holding local elections in the eastern areas that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists.
"These are questions of detail that might appear small, but they are important for creating the basis for local elections in Ukraine," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after the May 11 meeting near Berlin.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin blamed Russia for rejecting a plan to let the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe oversee security for the vote.
Steinmeier also said that “significant progress" was made in the area of security, citing a plan to separate military units along the front line and to create demilitarized zones.
Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and separatists has killed more than 9,300 people since April 2014. The conflict has flared up in recent weeks, with numerous cease-fire violations reported.
