Need more time’: Intense Minsk talks enter 16th hour

Published time: February 12, 2015 04:27
Edited time: February 12, 2015 08:45

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Foreground, from left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at Independence Palace in Minsk during the peace talks on Ukraine, February 11, 2015. (RIA Novosti/Nikolay Lazarenko)

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The leaders of the 'Normandy Four' – Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine – are continuing their roller coaster talks at the Minsk Palace of Independence. Their attempt to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis has been dragging on for over 15 hours.
LIVE UPDATES: 'Normandy 4' Ukraine peace talks in Minsk

During the first hours of deliberations, the talks took place in a wider format, before the leaders retreated to strike a compromise in a closed door session. All of the leaders reportedly took short breaks throughout the negotiations.
For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Minsk peace negotiations became one of the longest in his political career, TASS reports. The importance of the talks was so great that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier decided to delay his departure to Brazil.
“The talks in Minsk are not easy and are continuing,” he said.
READ MORE: Will ‘last chance’ talks in Minsk bring peace to Ukraine?
After almost 14 hours, the marathon talks appeared to have finished, with the leaders walking out of the conference hall. But minutes later it became apparent that it was just a short break in the tough negotiations.