Ceasefire talks open in Minsk

The so-called Contact Group conducting the talks in Minsk on Friday includes representatives of Russia, Ukraine, separatists and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The talks are aimed at achieving a ceasefire to bring an end to the months of fighting between Kyiv forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Ahead of the talks, Ukraine's representative, former President Leonid Kuchma, said, "We all came for peace, that's the most important thing - to find a truce."

Serving as Russia's representative is Moscow's ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov. He told reporters he expected documents to be signed, but he wouldn't elaborate.

The pro-Moscow separatists are represented by leaders from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, including rebel prime minister Alexander Zakharchenko.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko shared his guarded optimism for the talks with his Twitter followers.

Last week, Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Minsk to discuss a de-escalation.

Friday's meeting also comes amid a two-day NATO summit in the Welsh city of Newport where leaders are expected to announce further sanctions against Moscow if talks in Minsk prove fruitless.

Hours before talks began there were reports of renewed shelling near Ukraine's eastern port city of Mariupol. The city, which has become the latest flashpoint in the conflict between Kyiv and pro-Moscow rebels, lies along the Sea of Azov, between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Seizure of the city would give the pro-Moscow rebels a strong foothold.

hc/jr (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)