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Peace talks begin in east Ukraine after cease-fire

Pro-Russian fighters rest in a shelter at their position outside Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, June 22, 2014. Russian president Vladimir Putin said Sunday that fighting was continuing, including what he said was artillery fire from the Ukrainian side. Poroshenko has said his troops reserve the right to fire back if separatists attack them or civilians. (AP Photo/Andrei Petrov) Pro-Russian fighters rest in a shelter at their position outside Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, June 22, 2014. Russian president Vladimir Putin said Sunday that fighting was continuing, including what he said was artillery fire from the Ukrainian side. Poroshenko has said his troops reserve the right to fire back if separatists attack them or civilians. (AP Photo/Andrei Petrov)

By Associated Press June 23, 2014 1 min read

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) – The Interfax news agency says talks to end the uprising in eastern Ukraine have begun, bringing together a former Ukrainian president, the Russian ambassador and pro-Russian rebel leaders along with European officials.

The talks started Monday in Donetsk, the biggest city in the rebellious east. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko laid out his peace plan Friday, declaring a unilateral cease-fire in fighting to uproot the mutiny that has engulfed the nation’s industrial east for the past two months.

Russian welcomed the peace plan, but urged the Ukrainian government to engage in talks with the insurgents, who have declared their regions independent, seized official buildings and fought government troops.

Poroshenko has asked Ukraine’s former President Leonid Kuchma, his office said. Kuchma, who served as president in 1994-2005, comes from the east.