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| Casualties Reported as Ukraine Seeks a Cease-Fire | Casualties Reported as Ukraine Seeks a Cease-Fire |
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| DONETSK, Ukraine — Reports of more casualties from armed clashes in southeastern Ukraine emerged on Friday, even as President Petro O. Poroshenko conferred with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia about final adjustments to a peace plan that many hope could end the hostilities. | DONETSK, Ukraine — Reports of more casualties from armed clashes in southeastern Ukraine emerged on Friday, even as President Petro O. Poroshenko conferred with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia about final adjustments to a peace plan that many hope could end the hostilities. |
| Skirmishes for control of Krasny Liman, a railroad hub north of Donetsk, stretched into a second day. The Ukrainian military deployed both air and artillery strikes to oust the separatist fighters, said Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry. | Skirmishes for control of Krasny Liman, a railroad hub north of Donetsk, stretched into a second day. The Ukrainian military deployed both air and artillery strikes to oust the separatist fighters, said Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry. |
| Mr. Seleznyov said that seven government troops had died and that 30 others had been injured since fighting over a conduit road into the town began Thursday morning. He also said that 300 rebel fighters had died in the fighting since Thursday, a figure that could not be independently verified. Mr. Seleznyov said the number was “not propaganda, that’s a hard number.” | Mr. Seleznyov said that seven government troops had died and that 30 others had been injured since fighting over a conduit road into the town began Thursday morning. He also said that 300 rebel fighters had died in the fighting since Thursday, a figure that could not be independently verified. Mr. Seleznyov said the number was “not propaganda, that’s a hard number.” |
| But that figure was far higher than those provided Thursday night by rebel forces, which said their number of dead and injured was in the single digits. | But that figure was far higher than those provided Thursday night by rebel forces, which said their number of dead and injured was in the single digits. |
| There is much riding on the peace plan, which Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin discussed in a late-night phone call for a second time this week, according to statements from both the Kremlin and the Ukrainian president’s office. | There is much riding on the peace plan, which Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin discussed in a late-night phone call for a second time this week, according to statements from both the Kremlin and the Ukrainian president’s office. |
| Mr. Putin stressed the need for Kiev to “immediately end” military operations in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Kremlin statement said. He also told Mr. Poroshenko that the plan should make a priority of resolving the issues that led to the uprising in southeastern Ukraine, according to the statement. | Mr. Putin stressed the need for Kiev to “immediately end” military operations in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Kremlin statement said. He also told Mr. Poroshenko that the plan should make a priority of resolving the issues that led to the uprising in southeastern Ukraine, according to the statement. |
| Mr. Poroshenko addressed the schedule for the plan, emphasizing that all hostages should be released and that effective control over the border must be restored, his office said in a statement. The separatists are believed to control eight crossing points. | Mr. Poroshenko addressed the schedule for the plan, emphasizing that all hostages should be released and that effective control over the border must be restored, his office said in a statement. The separatists are believed to control eight crossing points. |
| In appealing for broader Russian backing for the overall plan, Mr. Poroshenko was specifically seeking support for a cease-fire. Mr. Putin had expressed support for “the efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation,” the Ukrainian statement said. | In appealing for broader Russian backing for the overall plan, Mr. Poroshenko was specifically seeking support for a cease-fire. Mr. Putin had expressed support for “the efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation,” the Ukrainian statement said. |
| In addition to speaking with Mr. Putin, Mr. Poroshenko also sought input Thursday from political figures in eastern Ukraine outside the separatist movement, whose leaders have already vowed to reject the plan. | In addition to speaking with Mr. Putin, Mr. Poroshenko also sought input Thursday from political figures in eastern Ukraine outside the separatist movement, whose leaders have already vowed to reject the plan. |
| Mr. Poroshenko has said that he will call a unilateral cease-fire when he announces what has been advertised as a 14-point plan. Details from the initial draft that have leaked in the Ukrainian news media so far include some measure of decentralization, new elections and a more robust border with Russia. | Mr. Poroshenko has said that he will call a unilateral cease-fire when he announces what has been advertised as a 14-point plan. Details from the initial draft that have leaked in the Ukrainian news media so far include some measure of decentralization, new elections and a more robust border with Russia. |
| In Moscow, Mr. Putin also called a late-night meeting of his Security Council to discuss the violence in eastern Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The council wants the violence in Ukraine to stop and the national dialogue to begin immediately, the Kremlin press service said. | In Moscow, Mr. Putin also called a late-night meeting of his Security Council to discuss the violence in eastern Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The council wants the violence in Ukraine to stop and the national dialogue to begin immediately, the Kremlin press service said. |
| The rising casualty toll in Krasny Liman provided a stark counterpoint to the peace plan, underscoring the likelihood of dire consequences should it fail to take hold. | The rising casualty toll in Krasny Liman provided a stark counterpoint to the peace plan, underscoring the likelihood of dire consequences should it fail to take hold. |
| The rebels were “holding fast” and had made several attempts to hold off the advance of Ukrainian government forces, Mr. Seleznyov said. He added that he was aware of the president’s peace plan but would not comment further, saying that he was only authorized to speak about “the ongoing antiterrorist operation.” | The rebels were “holding fast” and had made several attempts to hold off the advance of Ukrainian government forces, Mr. Seleznyov said. He added that he was aware of the president’s peace plan but would not comment further, saying that he was only authorized to speak about “the ongoing antiterrorist operation.” |
| The fighting also prompted a phone call by Mr. Putin to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and to President François Hollande of France to express his “grave concern” about Ukraine’s continuing military operations in Ukraine, the Kremlin press service said. The leaders also discussed the tensions caused by Russia’s decision this week to halt gas shipments to Ukraine over $4.5 billion in disputed bills. | The fighting also prompted a phone call by Mr. Putin to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and to President François Hollande of France to express his “grave concern” about Ukraine’s continuing military operations in Ukraine, the Kremlin press service said. The leaders also discussed the tensions caused by Russia’s decision this week to halt gas shipments to Ukraine over $4.5 billion in disputed bills. |
| The consultations among the three leaders are part of a pattern as Mr. Poroshenko hammers out his plan. The West has threatened to impose more sanctions on Russia if it does not act to lessen the violence in eastern Ukraine. | The consultations among the three leaders are part of a pattern as Mr. Poroshenko hammers out his plan. The West has threatened to impose more sanctions on Russia if it does not act to lessen the violence in eastern Ukraine. |
| Russia has denied any role in directing the separatist violence. But the presence of Russian fighters and extensive war matériel is seen in Ukraine and in the West as evidence of support from Moscow. | |
| The peace plan will be a difficult balancing act. It must meet the demands of the constituency that elected Mr. Poroshenko, which is hostile to the east; as well as those of the separatists there who want nothing to do with Kiev; and of Moscow, which wants to maintain its influence over Ukraine. | The peace plan will be a difficult balancing act. It must meet the demands of the constituency that elected Mr. Poroshenko, which is hostile to the east; as well as those of the separatists there who want nothing to do with Kiev; and of Moscow, which wants to maintain its influence over Ukraine. |
| The most important reaction will be Mr. Putin’s. Ever since protesters overthrew President Viktor F. Yanukovych, a Kremlin ally, in February, Moscow has been scrambling to find a way to preserve its sway in the region. Russia seized Crimea in March. | The most important reaction will be Mr. Putin’s. Ever since protesters overthrew President Viktor F. Yanukovych, a Kremlin ally, in February, Moscow has been scrambling to find a way to preserve its sway in the region. Russia seized Crimea in March. |
| The threats of an outright invasion in the rest of Ukraine have receded, if not evaporated, although Russia announced on Thursday a new round of military maneuvers in the region that includes much of the border with Ukraine. | The threats of an outright invasion in the rest of Ukraine have receded, if not evaporated, although Russia announced on Thursday a new round of military maneuvers in the region that includes much of the border with Ukraine. |
| Moscow seems prepared to wait and see whether the Poroshenko plan meets its main demands. Those include giving significant authority to the separatist regions and preserving the status of Russian as an official language there. Moscow also wants assurances that Ukraine will not align itself too closely to the European Union and will not join NATO. | Moscow seems prepared to wait and see whether the Poroshenko plan meets its main demands. Those include giving significant authority to the separatist regions and preserving the status of Russian as an official language there. Moscow also wants assurances that Ukraine will not align itself too closely to the European Union and will not join NATO. |
| Mr. Poroshenko, who has said repeatedly that he will sign an association agreement with Europe, is scheduled to formally approve the accord next Friday, along with Georgia and Moldova. Russia has said that it would respond by revising its trade agreements with Ukraine, imposing tariffs in an effort to keep out cheaper European goods. | Mr. Poroshenko, who has said repeatedly that he will sign an association agreement with Europe, is scheduled to formally approve the accord next Friday, along with Georgia and Moldova. Russia has said that it would respond by revising its trade agreements with Ukraine, imposing tariffs in an effort to keep out cheaper European goods. |
| It is widely believed that Ukraine would have to reach a manner of accommodation with Moscow because Kiev’s economic problems are even deeper than its recent political disarray, and Russia has long been its most important trading partner. | It is widely believed that Ukraine would have to reach a manner of accommodation with Moscow because Kiev’s economic problems are even deeper than its recent political disarray, and Russia has long been its most important trading partner. |