The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany will sign a peace agreement at the end of talks Thursday in Belarus, Russia’s state-run Ria Novosti news agency reported.
It’s expected to cover the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the creation of a demilitarized zone and the future status of the Donbass area in eastern Ukraine.
A previous peace deal was signed in September, also in Minsk. It called for a drawback of heavy weapons, self-rule in the eastern regions and a buffer zone along the Russia-Ukraine border.
The new plan envisions a much broader demilitarized zone to run along the current front lines.
The September agreement quickly disintegrated, and the violence continued.
Russia has steadfastly denied accusations that it is sending forces and weapons into Ukraine. But top Western and Ukrainian leaders have said there isn’t any doubt that Russia is behind surging violence and separatists’ efforts to take over territory in eastern Ukraine.
All the while, the crisis in Ukraine, which stemmed from a trade agreement, has forced more than 1.5 million people from their homes, according to the United Nations.