Merkel and Hollande to fly to Moscow in new effort to resolve Ukraine crisis

President Poroshenko presents an award to a wounded serviceman during his visit to a military hospital in Kharkiv. Photograph: Mykola Lazarenko/AFP/Getty Images

François Hollande and Angela Merkel in Paris in 2013. The leaders are heading to Kiev then Moscow for talks on the Ukraine crisis. Photograph: Imago / Barcroft Media

Shaun Walker in Kiev and Ian Traynor in Brussels-Thursday 5 February 2015

Surprise trip comes as US secretary of state John Kerry arrives in Kiev amid signals Washington may be open to providing military aid to Ukraine

Angela Merkel and François Hollande have announced a surprise European diplomatic intervention over east Ukraine, with the pair due in Kiev on Thursday and Moscow on Friday in an attempt to end the violence that has cost more than 5,000 lives.
Merkel and Hollande to Fly to Moscow in New Effort to Resolve Ukraine Crisis by Thavam Ratna