Ukraine peace deal hammered out

MINSK, Belarus — Guns would fall silent, heavy weapons would pull back from the front and Ukraine would trade a broad autonomy for the east to get back control of its Russian border by the end of 2015 under a peace deal hammered out today in all-night negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.

The deal was full of potential pitfalls that could derail its implementation, however. In announcing the plan, Russia and Ukraine differed over what exactly they had agreed to in the marathon 16-hour talks, including the status of Debaltseve, a key town now under rebel siege.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that the agreement envisages a cease-fire beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday as well as a special status for Ukraine’s separatist regions and provisions to address border concerns and humanitarian issues.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said there was no agreement on any autonomy or federalization for eastern Ukraine.

Military force plan awaiting backers

WASHINGTON — One day after President Barack Obama sent Congress legislation backing the use of military force against Islamic State militants, he’s still searching for his first outright supporter for the measure.

Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, senior lawmakers and newcomers to Congress, lawmakers across the congressional spectrum all found parts of the proposal to oppose on Wednesday, or else said nothing to tip their hand.

In Obama’s own party, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat in the Senate, referred to two wars in the past decade and a half and said any legislation must avoid “repeating the missteps of the past.” He added it must stay clear of an “open-ended authorization that becomes legal justification for future actions against unknown enemies, in unknown places, at unknown times.”