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![Civilians have paid the highest price in the 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine. The UN says nearly 6,000 people have been killed and nearly a million internally displaced [Xinhua]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/238087862_8-e1423628354124.jpg)
Civilians have paid the highest price in the 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine. The UN says nearly 6,000 people have been killed and nearly a million internally displaced [Xinhua]
Ukrainian officials accused rebel forces of firing a rocket barrage into Kramatorsk, some 40kms from the front lines, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding 26. There were reports that rockets had also hit a military base in the region, killing four soldiers.
The separatist rebels have been making significant gains since a major offensive launched last week to capture Debaltseve, a vital rail link between Donetsk and Luhansk, another city in the east under their control.
The Ukrainian military has been rushing reinforcements to the region, including paramilitary volunteer forces.
An exchange of heavy shelling was also reported in the rebel-held town of Vuhlehirsk in the Donetsk region. Civilians have evacuated the city since it fell to rebel forces late last week.
Low expectations
The rebel gains could derail the peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany set to begin in Minsk today.
The summit comes as a result of efforts by French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to revive earlier Minsk agreements to a ceasefire initially meant to begin in January. The ceasefire was broken by both sides almost immediately.
On Friday, Putin, Hollande and Merkel held closed-door talks for about five hours to try and find a way out of the crisis.
Earlier, Hollande and Merkel paid a brief visit to Kiev for a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Both Hollande and Merkel have played down expectations of a breakthrough in the negotiations, especially in light of indications that Washington could begin arming Ukraine.
Most of Europe sees the arming of the Ukrainian military as a dangerous escalation to the crisis. Both Hollande and Merkel are opposed to the idea and say all diplomatic avenues must be explored.
The United Kingdom says it does not want arms supplied to the Ukrainian military, but also said it could not allow Kiev’s forces to collapse.
Phone diplomacy?
Meanwhile, both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed that US President Barack Obama called Russian President Vladimir Putin late Tuesday to discuss ways to peacefully resolve the conflict.
“The presidents of Russia and the United States have emphasized the importance of a political – through dialogue – resolution of Ukraine’s internal conflict, the speedy cessation of bloodshed, and the protection of the legitimate rights of all Ukrainian citizens without exception, including in the southeast,” a Kremlin’s statement added.
A White House statement also said that Obama warned that Russia faced a high cost if “its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists” continued.
The White House also said that Obama spoke with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday ahead of the Minsk talks.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
