In the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, a grim railway junction fought over by Russian-backed separatists and government troops for the past two weeks, there was a brief respite yesterday.

The power, heat and running water remained off, a consequence of the constant barrage of shelling. But for a few hours, in a move not seen before in this war, there was near silence as both sides briefly ceased hostilities to evacuate the few residents still remaining. Dozens of buses travelled in convoys to ferry residents away from danger.

The respite is not expected to endure for long, however – unless events in Moscow take an unexpected turn. There, last night, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President François Hollande were beginning meetings with President Vladimir Putin in an effort to bring Ukraine back from the brink of a total war.

Hopes of peace have been dashed before during this increasingly savage conflict which has cost more than 5,300 lives so far.

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande flew to Moscow for emergency talks with Vladimir Putin yesterday (AP)

A more widespread temporary ceasefire would at least provide a breathing space for negotiations, but even that is by no means assured. And a failure in the talks would lead to a fresh eruption of fighting, with both sides already mobilising more forces and threatening spring offensives.

The talks broke up without agreement last night with the three leaders’ next contact expected to be by phone tomorrow. Developments away from the summit will have a significant bearing on what unfolds in the next crucial weeks. The urgency shown by Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande to try to grasp the nettle is an attempt to pre-empt the Obama administration’s plans to supply the Kiev government with heavy weaponry – a move which Western European states hold would add fuel to a combustible situation.

Developments away from the summit will have significant bearings on what unfolds in the next crucial weeks. The urgency shown by Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande to try and grasp the nettle is an attempt to pre-empt the Obama administration’s plans to supply the Kiev government with heavy weaponry – a move which France, Germany and other Western European states hold would add fuel to a combustible situation.

The Americans, however, show no signs of backing down. Joe Biden declared yesterday that Mr Putin cannot be trusted and issued a warning against appeasement. “Ukraine is fighting for its very survival,” said the US Vice-President at a security conference in Munich. “Russia is escalating the conflict by sending mercenaries and tanks, special operations soldiers. President Putin continues to call for new peace plans as his soldiers roll through the countryside. This is a moment where the US and Europe must stand firm. Russia cannot be allowed to redraw the map of Europe.”

In Washington, Senator John McCain, who had to watch in frustration as his urging to arm the “moderate” rebels in Syria fell on deaf ears at the White House, believes bipartisan support in Congress for weapon supplies means more leverage to ensure that this time the administration does not let down allies. “The US must act with urgency and supply defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine,” he reiterated. “Russian aggression is the gravest threat to European security in decades.” administration do not let down allies.

Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict Show all 23 1 /23 Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 30 November 2013 Public support grows for the “Euromaidan” anti-government protesters in Kiev demonstrating against Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the EU Association Agreement as images of them injured by police crackdown spread. EPA Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 20 February 2014 Kiev sees its worst day of violence for almost 70 years as at least 88 people are killed in 48 hours, with uniformed snipers shooting at protesters from rooftops. AFP/Getty Images Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 22 February 2014 Yanukovych flees the country after protest leaders and politicians agree to form a new government and hold elections. The imprisoned former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, is freed from prison and protesters take control of Presidential administration buildings, including Mr Yanukovych's residence. Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Imageses Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 27 February 2014 Pro-Russian militias seize government buildings in Crimea and the new Ukrainian government vows to prevent the country breaking up as the Crimean Parliament sets a referendum on secession from Ukraine in May. Sean Gallup/Getty Images Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 16 March 2014 Crimea votes overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a ballot condemned by the US and Europe as illegal. Russian troops had moved into the peninsula weeks before after pro-Russian separatists occupied buildings. EPA Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 6 April 2014 Pro-Russian rebels seize government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, calling for a referendum on independence and claiming independent republic. Ukraine authorities regain control of Kharkiv buildings on 8 April after launching an “anti-terror operation” but the rest remain out of their control. EPA/PHOTOMIG Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 7 June 2014 Petro Poroshenko is sworn in as Ukraine's president, calling on separatists to lay down their arms and end the fighting and later orders the creation of humanitarian corridors, since violated, to allow civilians to flee war zones. Getty Images Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 27 June 2014 The EU signs an association agreement with Ukraine, along with Georgia and Moldova, eight months after protests over the abandonment of the deal sparked the crisis. LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 17 July 2014 Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 is shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. Ukrainian intelligence officials claim it was hit by rebels using a Buk surface-to-air launcher in an apparent accident. Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 22 August 2014 A Russian aid convoy of more than 100 lorries enters eastern Ukraine and makes drop in rebel-controlled Luhansk without Government permission, sparking allegations of a “direct violation of international law”. Reuters/Alexander Demianchuk Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 29 August 2014 Nato releases satellite images appearing to show Russian soldiers, artillery and armoured vehicles engaged in military operations in eastern Ukraine. Nato Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 8 September 2014 Russia warns that it could block flights through its airspace if the EU goes ahead with new sanctions over the ongoing crisis and conflict EPA Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 17 September 2014 Despite the cease-fire and a law passed by the Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday granting greater autonomy to rebel-held parts of the east, civilian casualties continued to rise, adding to the estimated 3,000 people killed Reuters Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 20 October 2014 A 'tactical missile' explosion at a factory sends blast wave across rebel-held cityof Donetsk YouTube Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 16 November 2014 The fragile ceasefire gives way to an increased wave of military activity as artillery fire continues to rock the eastern Ukraine's pro-Russian rebel bastion of Donetsk Getty Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 26 December 2014 A new round of ceasefire talks, scheduled on neutral ground in the Belariusian capital Minsk, are called off AFP/Getty Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 12 January 2015 Soldiers in Debaltseve were forced to prepare heavy defences around the city; despite a brief respite to the fighting in eastern Ukraine, hostilities in Donetsk resumed at a level not seen since September 2014 AFP/Getty Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 21 January 2015 13 people are killed during shelling of bus in the rebel-held city of Donetsk Reuters Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 24 January 2015 Ten people were killed after pro-Russian separatists bombarded the east Ukrainian port city of Mariupol AP Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 2 February 2015 There was a dangerous shift in tempo as rebels bolstered troop numbers against government forces AFP/Getty Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 11 February 2015 European leaders meet in Minsk and agree on a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine beginning on February 14. From left to right: Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, France's President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. MAXIM MALINOVSKY | AFP | Getty Images Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 13 February 2015 Pro-Russian rebels in the city of Gorlivka, in the Donetsk region, fire missiles at Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve. Fighting continued in Debaltseve for a number of days after the Minsk ceasefire began. ANDREY BORODULIN | AFP | Getty Images Ukraine crisis: A timeline of the conflict 18 February 2015 Ukrainian soldiers repair the bullet-shattered windshield of their truck as their withdraw from the strategic town of Debaltseve. Following intense shelling from pro-Russian rebels, Ukrainian forces began to leave the town in the early hours of February 18. Brendan Hoffman | Getty Images

Nato’s eastern members, former Soviet satellite states, have been traditionally hostile to Russia and fear that a hasty deal in Moscow would be a precursor to danger for themselves. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Poland, was not just thinking of Ukraine when he said yesterday: “As close friends and partners, the EU and US need to continue standing shoulder to shoulder… We cannot compromise on independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

German and French diplomats, however, insist Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, who spent five hours in talks with Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande, has been convinced that his country’s interests will not be sacrificed. According to them, a compromise may be possible on two key issues. Russian-backed separatists will not get their demand for a federation, providing effective autonomy – the first stage, Kiev fears, to breaking away. At the same time, Moscow will be promised that there will be no fast-tracking of Ukraine into Nato.

A woman reacts outside a damaged hospital in Donetsk, Ukraine

The remaining proposals are said to be extensions of the Minsk Protocol signed by both sides in the Belarus capital last autumn which brought a temporary cessation of hostilities. The separatists may be given more power to hold, for instance, their own elections. Limited immunity from prosecution for “war crimes”, the withdrawal of heavy artillery by both sides and a security buffer zone at the Russian border are also to be agreed.

There is also a proposal for the ceasefire being monitored by a UN force. The Ukrainian government, however, fears this will create another permanently “frozen conflict” like those in former Georgian territories.

Meanwhile events in the last 24 hours show how dysfunctional the country remains. A senior military officer was arrested amid claims the defence establishment had been heavily infiltrated by Russia. Lt-Col Mykhailo Chornobai was allegedly passing on secrets to the “Donetsk People’s Republic” giving locations of Ukrainian forces subsequently hit by artillery manned by Russian “volunteers”.

The US is considering whether or not to provide 'lethal weapons' to Ukrainian forces (Getty)

Lt-Col Chornobai is among some 300 defence personnel arrested on charges of spying for the separatists or the Russians, just one factor that has led to widespread distrust of Kiev’s military hierarchy among soldiers fighting in the east. Some commanders hold that the senior command in Kiev cannot be trusted with any arms supplied to Ukraine. Semyon Semenchenko, a pro-government paramilitary leader and MP, had urged US officials to send weapons directly to the front.

This is the fractured state of affairs into which, Western European diplomats point out, the Americans are considering sending large quantities of heavy weaponry – and which may also render Mr Putin impervious to the efforts of Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande.

Downing Street hits back at 'irrelevant' claims

Nigel Morris

Prime Minister David Cameron (ADRIAN DENNIS | AFP | Getty Images)

Downing Street hit back at accusations yesterday that David Cameron had become an “irrelevance” in the diplomatic drive to end the bloodshed in Ukraine.

The charge of being a “bit player” was levelled at the Prime Minister by General Sir Richard Shirreff, Britain’s former top Nato commander.

A Downing Street spokeswoman retorted that no one who witnessed EU leaders’ talks on the issue would have concluded that Britain was irrelevant. She said: “We were pushing hard for a unanimous, strong and united message on the situation in Russia and Ukraine and leading the way on further work on sanctions.”

Germany and France had been in the lead on the issue for the past six months and Britain was “comfortable” with the process, she said.