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Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany meet in Paris to make progress on Ukraine peace

Associated Press
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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks as he heads a meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Alexadrovsky Hall in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. (Yuri Kochetkov/Pool photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande, left, greets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Friday, Oct. 2 , 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting the leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany in a revived European push to bring peace to eastern Ukraine.The long-awaited summit in Paris on Friday is being overshadowed by international concerns about Russia’s military intervention in Syria this week.(AP Photo/Jacques Brinon) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and French President Francois Hollande, right, meet for bilateral talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting the leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany in a revived European push to bring peace to eastern Ukraine. The long-awaited summit in Paris on Friday is being overshadowed by international concerns about Russia’s military intervention in Syria this week. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany in a revived European push to bring peace to eastern Ukraine.

The long-awaited summit in Paris on Friday is being overshadowed by international concerns about Russia's military intervention in Syria this week.

A senior French diplomat expressed guarded optimism about Friday's talks, which are expected to address more autonomy for eastern regions and withdrawing weapons.

French President Francois Hollande, in proposing the meeting, praised progress in implementing a troubled February peace deal and said if that continues, "then I will argue for lifting the sanctions." EU sanctions and a subsequent Russian embargo have hurt many European companies.

The conflict between government forces and Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 8,000 and displaced 2 million since April 2014.