German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said a bid to resolve the Ukrainian conflict is "uncertain but worth trying", as the French President warned it was "one of the last chances" for peace.
Speaking at a security conference in Munich, Mrs Merkel also said Russia "needs to do its bit" to resolve the crisis.
She accused Moscow of showing "territorial disrespect" for its neighbour, and said international law had been violated.
Mrs Merkel told the summit: "We want to shape security on Europe together with Russia not against Russia.
"Russia needs to do its bit in the Ukrainian crisis as well.
"This crisis cannot be resolved by military means."
Her comments come after she and the French President Francois Hollande met Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow, in what was widely seen as a last-ditch attempt to thrash out a deal to end fighting which has claimed the lives of more than 5,300 people.
Mr Hollande said the agreement could include a demilitarised zone and greater autonomy for the separatist eastern region.
Mrs Merkel said of the peace efforts: "It is uncertain whether it will lead to success, but from my point of view and that of the French President (Francois Hollande) it is definitely worth trying.
"I believe we owe that much to those who are affected in Ukraine."
Mr Hollande told reporters: "I think this is one of the last chances, that's why we took this initiative.
"If we don't manage to find not just a compromise but a lasting peace agreement, we know perfectly well what the scenario will be. It has a name, it's called war."
Asked at the Munich talks whether he thought the peace proposal could work, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko replied: "Yes."
Mr Putin said Russia does not want war, but was scathing of Western sanctions over Ukraine.
He told trade union members in Moscow: "There's no war, thank God.
"But there is definitely an attempt to curb our development."
He added: "But we don't plan to fight a war with anyone, we plan to cooperate with everyone."
But US Vice President Joe Biden called on Mr Biden to demonstrate this by his actions.
"Given Russia's recent history we need to judge its deeds not its words. Don't tell us, show us, President Putin," Mr Biden told the conference.
Mr Biden backed the latest Franco-German diplomatic push, but also insisted Ukraine had the right to defend itself.
He said: "Too many times President Putin has promised peace and delivered tanks, troops and weapons.
"So we will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance, not to encourage war but to allow Ukraine to defend itself."
Addressing the conference, Mr Poroshenko brandished several passports taken from Russian soldiers in what he claimed was proof of Moscow's "presence" in his country.
"This is the best evidence for the aggression and for the presence of Russian troops," he said.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who attended the Munich talks, said: "We believe that there are good grounds for optimism to issue recommendations for conflict resolution.
"It is important for everybody to realise the scale of the problem. The world is at a turning point."
Following a meeting with his US and German counterparts at the conference, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "It is clear that the escalation in fighting in the east of Ukraine cannot be allowed to continue and a political solution is imperative.
"Britain led the way in placing strict EU sanctions on Russia, and will continue to consider any diplomatic proposal on its merit, in pursuit of a long-lasting political outcome."
But he said any peace deal would not recognise military gains made by the rebels.
Amid a debate in Washington over whether to send weapons to help the Kiev government fight pro-Russian rebels, the German Chancellor argued this would not help end the crisis.
"There is already a large number of weapons in the region and I don't see that this has made a military solution more likely," she said.
Her comments echo those of the British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who warned providing additional weapons could escalate the conflict.
But NATO's top military commander has said this should not be ruled out.
US Air Force General Philip Breedlove told reporters at the Munich conference: "I don't think we should preclude out of hand the possibility of the military option."
"The situation is worsening and we need to address the worsening situation.
"It is important that we use all the tools in the toolbox to address this."
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Gallery: Civilians Flee Besieged Ukrainian Town
A member of the Ukrainian armed forces assists local residents onto a bus to flee fighting in Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine
Two dozen buses escorted civilians out of the town after separatist rebels and government forces agreed a brief truce to allow civilians to be evacuated. Click through for more images ...
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