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Ukraine crisis: Leaders to hold more talks amid clashes | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are to hold more talks to resolve the conflict in east Ukraine. | |
Germany and France have urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to extend a ceasefire with pro-Russian separatists - due to end on Monday evening - for a second time. | |
The truce remains under strain, with five Ukrainian soldiers killed in clashes in the east. | |
A Russian state TV cameraman was also shot dead while reporting in Donetsk. | |
Russia's Channel One TV said that Anatoly Klyan, 68, was fatally wounded in the stomach when shots were fired by Ukrainian troops near a military base. He was reporting on pro-Russian separatists in the area. | |
He is the third Russian TV journalist to be killed in Ukraine this month. | |
Deadline looms | |
On Sunday, protesters angered by the ceasefire gathered outside President Poroshenko's offices in Kiev. | |
The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says Mr Poroshenko is coming under increased pressure to resume military operations against the rebels. | The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says Mr Poroshenko is coming under increased pressure to resume military operations against the rebels. |
One demonstrator told Reuters news agency that the temporary truce "didn't bring any results, except deaths of our soldiers". | One demonstrator told Reuters news agency that the temporary truce "didn't bring any results, except deaths of our soldiers". |
The ceasefire was extended on Friday for three days and is due to end on Monday at 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT). | The ceasefire was extended on Friday for three days and is due to end on Monday at 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT). |
Some rebel leaders refused to observe the truce and low-level attacks have continued over the weekend. | |
Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskiy said five Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and at least 17 wounded in clashes in the east of Ukraine. | Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskiy said five Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and at least 17 wounded in clashes in the east of Ukraine. |
He also said pro-Russian rebels had seized an air defence unit in Donetsk and captured six soldiers, although this has not been independently verified. | He also said pro-Russian rebels had seized an air defence unit in Donetsk and captured six soldiers, although this has not been independently verified. |
Elsewhere, there were renewed clashes in the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk with government troops and armed separatists accusing one another firing shells in the city. | Elsewhere, there were renewed clashes in the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk with government troops and armed separatists accusing one another firing shells in the city. |
Photographs showed a badly damaged apartment block and there were reports of civilian casualties, but this has not been confirmed. | |
EU pressure | EU pressure |
President Poroshenko extended the ceasefire in a bid to make some progress on his 15-point peace plan. | President Poroshenko extended the ceasefire in a bid to make some progress on his 15-point peace plan. |
The plan involves decentralising power and holding early local and parliamentary elections. | The plan involves decentralising power and holding early local and parliamentary elections. |
The European Union has threatened to impose more sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin unless he puts pressure on pro-Russia rebels to lay down their arms. | The European Union has threatened to impose more sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin unless he puts pressure on pro-Russia rebels to lay down their arms. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held their second talks in a week with Mr Poroshenko and the Russian leader on Sunday. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held their second talks in a week with Mr Poroshenko and the Russian leader on Sunday. |
The leaders discussed the importance of the ceasefire and the implementation of the peace plan, a statement (in French) from President Hollande's office said. | The leaders discussed the importance of the ceasefire and the implementation of the peace plan, a statement (in French) from President Hollande's office said. |
According to the AFP news agency, President Putin used the call to urge Mr Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire "for a longer period". | According to the AFP news agency, President Putin used the call to urge Mr Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire "for a longer period". |
Chancellor Merkel warned Russia on Friday the EU was prepared for "drastic measures" if no progress was made on the peace plan. | Chancellor Merkel warned Russia on Friday the EU was prepared for "drastic measures" if no progress was made on the peace plan. |
Her warning came as Mr Poroshenko signed a landmark EU trade pact - an agreement that triggered the recent crisis. | Her warning came as Mr Poroshenko signed a landmark EU trade pact - an agreement that triggered the recent crisis. |
The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign the EU deal - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow this year. | The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign the EU deal - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow this year. |
Russia then annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, and separatists in the east declared independence from Ukraine. | Russia then annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, and separatists in the east declared independence from Ukraine. |
More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates. | More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates. |