French President Francois Hollande has said a current Franco-German bid to end the Ukrainian conflict was "one of the last chances" of avoiding "war" in the ex-Soviet nation.
"If we fail to find a lasting peace agreement, we know the scenario perfectly well: it has a name, it is called war," the French leader said while on a visit to southern France.
The leaders of Russia, France and Germany yesterday held what have been described as "constructive and substantive talks" on a way to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
The French and German leaders had held similar late talks the night before with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
It is part of a last-ditch push for a breakthrough before EU leaders consider new financial sanctions against Russia next week.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the latest bid to end the Ukraine crisis with Russia was uncertain but worth trying given the ongoing bloodshed.
"It is uncertain whether it will lead to success, but from my point of view and that of the French President it is definitely worth trying," she said.
"I believe we owe that much to those who are affected in Ukraine," she told a global security conference in Munich.
Biden launches passionate peace plea to Russia
Also speaking at the global security conference in Munich, US Vice President Joe Biden has launched a passionate plea to Vladimir Putin to show by his actions that the Russian leader desires peace in Ukraine.
"Given Russia's recent history, we need to judge its deeds not its words. Don't tell us, show us, President Putin," Mr Biden told the conference, shortly after the Russian leader said Moscow did not want war.
While he did not directly say that Washington would provide arms to Kiev, the US vice president insisted Ukraine had the right to defend itself from pro-Russian separatists waging war in the east.
He said Washington would continue to aid Ukraine, adding "too many times President Putin has promised peace and delivered tanks and troops and weapons".
"So we will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance. Not to encourage war but to allow Ukraine to defend itself.
"Let me be clear: We do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine," Mr Biden said.
"But let me be equally clear: We do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing.
"We believe we should attempt an honourable peace. We also believe the Ukrainian people have a right to defend themselves," Mr Biden added, winning applause from the audience.
Poroshenko says peace proposal could work
Mr Poroshenko has said that the peace proposal aimed at ending fighting with pro-Russian separatists could work.
Asked whether the initiative presented by Germany and France to Russia's Vladimir Putin yesterday could work, he replied: "Yes."
Mr Poroshenko added that he hoped it could help to ensure "more security in Europe".
Mr Putin today said Russia is not at war and does not want war with anyone, but sharply criticised Western sanctions over Ukraine.
"There's no war, thank God. But there is definitely an attempt to curb our development," Mr Putin told trade union members.
"But we don't plan to fight a war with anyone, we plan to cooperate with everyone."
Ms Merkel, Mr Hollande, Mr Putin and Mr Poroshenko are to discuss progress on settling the Ukraine crisis tomorrow.
A brief truce was organised yesterday so trapped civilians could reach safety from Debaltseve, a government-held railway hub nearly encircled by rebel forces who have made it the target of their advance.
Both sides sent convoys of buses, giving residents a choice to evacuate to government or rebel territory.
The government buses left full, while the rebel buses left mostly empty.
Seven civilians and five soldiers have been killed in fighting in east Ukraine, government and rebel officials said today.
Kiev has accused pro-Russian separatists of massing forces for fresh offensives.
Rebels are "accumulating forces for further offensive operations on Debaltseve and Mariupol," Ukrainian defence official Volodymyr Polyovyi told journalists.
The separatists were sending fresh tanks, armoured personnel carriers as well as multiple launch rocket systems to the Debaltseve region and Granitne, around 35km northeast of Mariupol, Mr Polyovyi said.
Debaltseve is mid-way between rebel centres Donetsk and Lugansk.
It has been the focus of fierce fighting for over a week as insurgent fighters try to encircle government troops holding the strategic railway hub.
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