text:  Responding to news reports last week that the meeting would be held ahead of the U.S. presidential election, a Russian diplomat said Moscow would not attend because any Ukrainian preconditions to a peace plan amount to ultimatums. Ashley Westerman, NPR News, Kyiv. Stocks ticked higher on Wall Street as the momentum continues there. The Dow was up 210 points. The Nasdaq rose 74 points today. You're listening to NPR News.