Ukraine: Mutual Understanding Reached With Russia

A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

A ministry statement on June 9 gave no other details after a second successive day of talks of a "contact group" consisting of Russia, Ukraine, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Russia did not immediately comment.

The two sides on June 8 conducted the first of what Poroshenko said should be daily negotiations involving an OSCE representative.

The OSCE, whose rotating presidency is currently held by Switzerland, said Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini was its representative in the negotiations.

Poroshenko said after the June 8 meeting that "we must end the fighting this week."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces traded fire on June 9 with pro-Russian separatists who control the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP