The setting was a Manhattan restaurant, and after 25 minutes what allegedly emerged was a pro-Russian peace plan for Ukraine that its author believes may have ended up in the White House.

The first weeks of a US presidency are usually filled with optimism -- a fresh face with a clean slate settles into the White House and maps out a vision for the next four years.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh explains the violent turmoil in Ukraine.

Peace in eastern Ukraine remains tenuous as a spate of violations of a newly implemented ceasefire continued into Wednesday.