A ceasefire deal has reportedly been reached for eastern Ukraine as diplomatic efforts intensify ahead of a leaders’ summit in Belarus.<br /><br />Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, pro-Russian rebels and the OSCE security watchdog holding preliminary talks in Minsk are also said to have agreed on a monitoring mechanism and a scheme for the withdrawal of heavy weapons.<br /><br />The apparent breakthrough by the so-called Contact Group is being reported by the TASS news agency.<br /><br />The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France are due to meet in Minsk on Wednesday.<br /><br />There has been little optimism ahead of the summit amid intense fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists.<br /><br />But France’s President Francois Hollande has been upbeat, insisting he is going to Minsk with the firm desire to reach a peace deal, pursuing an initiative with Germany’s Angela Merkel.<br /><br />“We must do everything and until the very last moment of this meeting, the Chancellor and myself will push for an agreement, a
