The contact group of representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE will meet in Minsk on Friday to hold peace talks aimed at ending the fighting in east Ukraine, the Belarussian foreign ministry said.
"The contact group on Ukraine has informed the Belarussian side of its intention to hold its next meeting in Minsk on January 30," the ministry said in a statement, without specifying whether representatives of the pro-Russian separatists will take part, after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for urgent talks.