Ukraine Nears End of Truce as EU Set to Discuss Crisis

A cease-fire called by Ukraine’s government in its fight against rebels in the east expires today, as European Union leaders prepare to sign a pact tying Ukraine closer to the bloc with President Petro Poroshenko.

The week-long truce, which the authorities in Kiev say has been repeatedly flouted by the pro-Russian separatists, is scheduled to run out at 10 p.m. local time. As they sit down with Poroshenko in Brussels, European Union heads of government will also discuss possible new sanctions against Russia.