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Ukraine conflict: Crucial summit as fighting rages Ukraine conflict: Crucial summit goes into early hours
(about 4 hours later)
Urgent talks on ending the deadly conflict in east Ukraine are under way in the Belarusian capital Minsk, after a week of EU shuttle diplomacy. A summit on ending Ukraine's conflict - brokered by Germany and France - has gone into the early hours in Minsk, as fighting rages in the east.
There was little warmth as Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko.There was little warmth as Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are leading the peace initiative.
Russia has been accused of arming and reinforcing pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine - a claim it denies.Russia has been accused of arming and reinforcing pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine - a claim it denies.
Brokering the ceasefire bid are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
The talks are set to focus on securing a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a demilitarised zone.The talks are set to focus on securing a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a demilitarised zone.
On the ground in eastern Ukraine, at least one person died when a hospital was shelled in the rebel-held city of Donetsk, while further north rebel forces bombarded government forces with mortars on the front line. On the ground in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Wednesday saw new attacks
The death in Donetsk was the sixth confirmed on Wednesday, with a bus hit earlier. On Tuesday, 19 Ukrainian soldiers were killed along the front line.
While the Ukrainian government is seeking a demarcation line based on the failed ceasefire agreed on 5 September in Belarus last year, the rebels want a new truce to reflect the gains they have made in recent weeks, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from Donetsk.While the Ukrainian government is seeking a demarcation line based on the failed ceasefire agreed on 5 September in Belarus last year, the rebels want a new truce to reflect the gains they have made in recent weeks, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from Donetsk.
More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began, and there has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began, and there has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.
Ceasefire hopes: James Reynolds, BBC News, Donetsk city At the scene: Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent, Minsk
Donetsk may be the tidiest city-at-war in the world. In the centre of town, the streets are swept, the benches are clean, the bins are empty. From the city centre you can hear the regular, deep boom of artillery fire in the distance. The images tell you an awful lot. The Ukrainian and Russian presidents barely looked at each other when they were forced to shake hands. At a family photo of the leaders, not a single person was smiling. There was even an image of Vladimir Putin inside the negotiations snapping a pencil in two.
"We want to live alone," insists one woman who puts down her shopping bags to talk. "Most people here don't want to be ruled by Ukraine and Poroshenko," she concludes. In the end, what it will come down to is what the Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, is willing to accept in terms of a compromise and what Russia is willing to offer.
"We're hoping for a resolution," says another man, "but it all depends on Ukraine." In broad terms what Ukraine, backed by the West, wants is to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, including control of the border with Russia. But what the separatists in eastern Ukraine, backed by Russia, want is to remain in charge of the territory that is now under their control.
A mother, walking with her young son, says she's exasperated with both sides. "They need to shut all the leaders in a room," she suggests, "like they do when they choose a pope. Lock them in. Don't let any of them out until they've reached an agreement." The best that anyone says can be achieved is a freezing of the conflict.
An unnamed source in the Ukrainian delegation told Reuters news agency that the leaders would sign two documents:An unnamed source in the Ukrainian delegation told Reuters news agency that the leaders would sign two documents:
The handshake between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders was brief, with Mr Poroshenko coming up to Mr Putin without smiling.The handshake between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders was brief, with Mr Poroshenko coming up to Mr Putin without smiling.
After the leaders chatted in private for several hours, they broke briefly for photos before gathering again with their foreign ministers.After the leaders chatted in private for several hours, they broke briefly for photos before gathering again with their foreign ministers.
Speaking earlier, Mr Poroshenko said the situation threatened to spin "out of control" if the parties did not agree to de-escalation and a ceasefire.Speaking earlier, Mr Poroshenko said the situation threatened to spin "out of control" if the parties did not agree to de-escalation and a ceasefire.
Warning that his government was prepared to impose martial law, he said the Minsk summit was one of the final chances to bring about an unconditional ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.Warning that his government was prepared to impose martial law, he said the Minsk summit was one of the final chances to bring about an unconditional ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned against making an issue of Ukraine's unguarded eastern border with Russia.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned against making an issue of Ukraine's unguarded eastern border with Russia.
"To give away the Russian part of the border also would be to cut them [the rebels] off even from humanitarian help and allow them to be surrounded,'' he said in Moscow."To give away the Russian part of the border also would be to cut them [the rebels] off even from humanitarian help and allow them to be surrounded,'' he said in Moscow.
US President Barack Obama has refused to rule out supplying "lethal defensive weapons" to Kiev if diplomacy fails, but Russia says that would worsen the crisis.US President Barack Obama has refused to rule out supplying "lethal defensive weapons" to Kiev if diplomacy fails, but Russia says that would worsen the crisis.
Rival agendas at Ukraine talksRival agendas at Ukraine talks
Ukraine: Restore government authority over breakaway areas, though Donetsk and Luhansk regions could get greater self-rule; disarm rebel forces; withdrawal of Russian troops; restore Kiev's control over Ukraine-Russia border; full prisoner exchange.Ukraine: Restore government authority over breakaway areas, though Donetsk and Luhansk regions could get greater self-rule; disarm rebel forces; withdrawal of Russian troops; restore Kiev's control over Ukraine-Russia border; full prisoner exchange.
Pro-Russian rebels: Separation from rest of Ukraine and recognition of "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk; no disarmament of separatist forces; amnesty for separatist leaders.Pro-Russian rebels: Separation from rest of Ukraine and recognition of "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk; no disarmament of separatist forces; amnesty for separatist leaders.
Russia: Legal guarantees for rights of Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine; full autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk in a federal system - not necessarily independence; no return of Crimea to Ukraine; withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from combat zone.Russia: Legal guarantees for rights of Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine; full autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk in a federal system - not necessarily independence; no return of Crimea to Ukraine; withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from combat zone.
EU and US: Restore Ukraine's territorial integrity; end Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine - withdrawal of all Russian troops and heavy weapons; effective monitoring of Russia-Ukraine border and demilitarised zone between the combatants; full democracy in Donetsk and Luhansk.EU and US: Restore Ukraine's territorial integrity; end Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine - withdrawal of all Russian troops and heavy weapons; effective monitoring of Russia-Ukraine border and demilitarised zone between the combatants; full democracy in Donetsk and Luhansk.
September 2014 ceasefire: The 12-point planSeptember 2014 ceasefire: The 12-point plan
Why has conflict returned to eastern Ukraine?Why has conflict returned to eastern Ukraine?
With both sides seeking territorial gains before a potential ceasefire, there are fears that the violence could undermine attempts to secure a long-term deal. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the shelling in Luhansk but Sautreuil reported heavy military traffic in the city as rebel rocket launchers appeared to change position in response to the attacks.
A pedestrian was killed when Hospital No 20 was shelled in Donetsk and caught fire, a rebel spokeswoman confirmed for AFP news agency.A pedestrian was killed when Hospital No 20 was shelled in Donetsk and caught fire, a rebel spokeswoman confirmed for AFP news agency.
At least two people were killed and several more injured when a shell hit a bus station earlier. Three more deaths were reported during the night, city officials said. At least two people were killed and several more injured when a shell hit a bus station earlier and three more deaths were reported elsewhere.
The majority of Ukrainian military casualties on Tuesday were near Debaltseve, a major transport hub where thousands of soldiers are under rebel siege.The majority of Ukrainian military casualties on Tuesday were near Debaltseve, a major transport hub where thousands of soldiers are under rebel siege.
The separatists say they have cut off the main supply road into the town from the west as they try to capture a tongue-shaped area that cuts into the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The separatists say they have cut off the main supply road into the town from the west as they try to capture a tongue-shaped area that cuts into both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Ukraine's war: The human costUkraine's war: The human cost
Source: Figures from UN report, 6 FebruarySource: Figures from UN report, 6 February
Do you live in eastern Ukraine? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukDo you live in eastern Ukraine? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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