Ukraine ready for peace talks as violence grows

Ukraine’s president said he’s willing to resume peace talks with pro-Russian separatists on Saturday as unrest continues to build in the country. 

Fighting intensified Friday in eastern Ukraine, leaving at least nine Ukrainian soldiers dead Friday, the Associated Press reported.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the government had proposed a time and place for talks to be held, but he hasn’t received a response from the other parties.

{mosads}Rebels, however, separately indicated they could be prepared to meet in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Earlier in the week, Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France pledged to meet no later than Saturday to try and reach a cease-fire agreement. A previous ceasefire ordered by Ukraine’s president collapsed after separatists violated it repeatedly.