A meeting between Ukrainian and Russia-backed separatist leaders scheduled to take place in Minsk on Dec. 9 will not take place after separatist leaders said they needed more time.

The so-called tripartite talks include Ukrainian, Russian and separatists representatives as well as observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The parties previously agreed to a cease-fire on Sept. 5 but it has failed to hold, resulting in escalating casualties. A new cease-fire was intended to cover the Luhansk Oblast as well as the Donetsk airport and to start on Dec. 5 but has also failed to materialize.