U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv today, a visit to be followed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francoise Hollande. The high-level visits fuel speculation that the West is trying to broker an agreement that restarts diplomatic negotiations to bring an end to Russia’s nearly year-long war against Ukraine.

Several news agencies reported that Merkel and Hollande would be staying the night in Kyiv and then flying to Moscow on Feb. 6 to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.m