Merkel to discuss Ukraine peace plan with Obama

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was Monday to brief US President Barack Obama on the latest peace plan for Ukraine ahead of a four-way summit aimed at ending 10 months of bloodshed. Foreign ministry officials from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France were due to hold a preparatory meeting in Berlin after leaders agreed to push for the key meeting on a new peace deal Wednesday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, warned that a "number of points" st