Ukraine Set To Launch Dialogue Under OSCE Plan

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A reluctant Ukrainian government has agreed to launch discussions on giving more powers to the eastern regions under a peace plan brokered by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. But Ukraine remains wary of engaging with pro-Russian insurgents who've declared independence in two eastern regions.

Ukraine's prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk (ahr-SEHN'-ee yaht-sehn-YOOK'), was to chair the first in a series of round tables set to include national lawmakers, government figures and regional officials in line with proposals drafted by the OSCE.

Russia has strongly backed the Swiss-drafted road map, but Ukraine has remained cool to the plan and U.S. officials are skeptical of its prospects for success.

Ukraine and the West have accused Moscow of stirring up the unrest in eastern Ukraine, and they've rejected the referendum as a sham.

Yatsenyuk says Ukraine has its own plan for ending the crisis and says the people of his country should settle the issue themselves.

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