'Glimmer of hope' for Ukraine after new ceasefire deal

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd L), Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L), France's President Francois Hollande (2nd R) and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius address the media after taking part in peace talks on resolving the Ukrainian crisis in Minsk, February 12, 2015. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

MINSK (Reuters) - Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a deal offering a "glimmer of hope" for an end to conflict in eastern Ukraine, but the United States and NATO said further intense fighting on Thursday ran counter to the spirit of the accord.

The agreement, announced after more than 16 hours of discussions in the Belarussian capital Minsk, was followed swiftly by allegations from Kiev of a new, mass influx of Russian armour into rebel-held eastern Ukraine.