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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama discussed plans Monday to renew peace talks to end the ongoing fighting in Ukraine. Obama said Russia "violated just about every commitment" it made in the September Minsk agreement aimed to end the conflict.
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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and French President Francois Hollande are joining Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chancellor Merkel in a meeting in Belarus on Wednesday.
A 31-to-44 mile demilitarized zone is speculated to be included in the peace plans.
Obama, under pressure from senior U.S. officials, also said the U.S. may supply arms to Ukraine if an agreement isn't reached, a move Merkel opposes.
"The progress that Ukraine needs cannot be achieved with more weapons," Merkel said. She also believes Russia could intensify its involvement in the conflict by using its air force.
The implementation of further sanctions by the European Union on Russia have been delayed as to give further opportunity to diplomacy.
A two-day cease-fire was ignored by both Ukrainian troops or pro-Russian rebel separatists this past weekend.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accused the Russian military of arming Ukrainian rebels and said Putin isn't looking for a diplomatic solution, but would rather "dominate Ukraine as well as Russia's other neighbors."
"The Ukrainians are being slaughtered and we're sending them blankets and meals," McCain said. "Blankets don't do well against Russian tanks."
Russia denies the accusation of supporting the rebels. More than 5,300 people have died and 1.5 million have been displaced since the start of the conflict.
