Berlin: Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France meeting in Berlin have agreed on a series of steps for a resumption of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

The steps include reopening talks no later than Saturday "with the goal of reaching an unconditional and mutually agreed sustainable cease-fire" to be monitored by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In the declaration issued today after the evening talks, the ministers said they welcomed Russia`s readiness to grant Ukrainian border guards access to Russian territory to take part in controlling two border crossings once the cease-fire is in place.