MINSK, Belarus
The leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia gathered in the Belarusian capital of Minsk to seek an end to bitter fighting in the east of the Ukraine.
The talks between French President Francois Hollande, Germany's Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russia's Vladimir Putin have continued for 13 hours.
The leaders are expected to sign an agreement after the talks for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there has been some progress and "Everything is super."
More than 5,300 people have been killed and 12,200 others injured in eastern Ukraine since mid-April last year in the ongoing conflict, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists signed a cease-fire agreement in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sept. 5, but both sides have violated it.
Fighting has increased in recent weeks as separatist fighters backed by Russia seek to expand their control in the east of the country.
The press conference is scheduled for later this morning.
