Kiev--Ukraine will press European leaders for peacekeepers to patrol its war-torn east and will angle for more international financial support at two days of high-level talks starting Monday.
Its pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko called on EU leaders to "provide powerful signals in support of Ukraine and its European integration in the course of the summit".
Poroshenko is to meet with leaders, including the head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, at a summit on Monday and with other international officials the day after at a conference showcasing cash-strapped Ukraine's economic reforms.
Ukraine will nudge its allies to send peacekeepers to the east where its army is fighting pro-Russian separatists -- a move the EU is reluctant to make.
"The parties have agreed to continue coordination in the international arena regarding the opportunity of deploying a mission under the auspices of the EU in order to facilitate a peaceful settlement," Poroshenko's office said in a statement.
The conflict between government troops and pro-Russian forces has killed more than 6,000 people in the past year and displaced more than a million, according to the United Nations.
Despite a ceasefire deal, European OSCE observers say there are still exchanges of artillery fire at the front.
AFP
