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Ukraine crisis: Talks held in bid to curb violence Ukraine crisis: Brokered talks to begin in Kiev
(about 9 hours later)
Ukraine is due to host round-table talks in Kiev as efforts continue to find a negotiated settlement to the crisis in the east of the country. Talks to end the crisis in Ukraine are due to begin in Kiev, brokered by international monitors, but pro-Russian rebels look unlikely to attend.
The talks will include members of the interim government and regional leaders, but pro-Russian separatists have refused to take part. The round table was organised as part of a roadmap drawn up by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation and Europe (OSCE).
The move is part of a "roadmap" drawn up by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation and Europe (OSCE). Government and regional figures are to attend but the idea was for the talks to be as inclusive as possible.
On Tuesday, seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed by rebels in the east. Ukraine's military has suffered its heaviest losses to the rebels so far.
The defence ministry said an armoured personnel carrier was ambushed near the town of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region. One rebel was also said to have died in the ensuing gunfight. Seven soldiers were killed when rebels ambushed an armoured personnel carrier near the town of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region, according to the defence ministry. One rebel is said to have also died.
Donetsk and the neighbouring region of Luhansk have declared themselves separate from Ukraine after referendums deemed illegal by Kiev, the US and EU. Donetsk and the neighbouring region of Luhansk have declared themselves separate from Ukraine after referendums deemed illegal by Kiev, the US and EU, but Russia said it "respected" the votes.
The OSCE - a security and rights monitoring group drawn from European countries - said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin supported its initiative. The struggle for control of Ukraine, where the elected pro-Moscow president was deposed in February, has set Russia at loggerheads with Western powers.
The Vienna-based group named veteran German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger as a moderator for Wednesday's talks. In other developments
However, analysts say it is unclear who will speak for the pro-Russian separatists, who lack a single leader or agreed goals. 'Just guns'
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, currently visiting Ukraine, said he hoped that Wednesday's talks would lead to the separatists disarming and would also improve the atmosphere for presidential elections on 25 May. The OSCE - a security and rights monitoring group drawn from European and North American states - said Russian President Vladimir Putin supported its initiative.
Speaking in Odessa, he said the situation remained "very threatening" but called for "a national dialogue." A veteran German diplomat, Wolfgang Ischinger, has been brought in to moderate Wednesday's talks.
"I hope this will create the conditions to take a step to bring back occupied territory," he said. But reports suggest that representatives of the pro-Russian separatists, who in any case lack a single leader or agreed goals, will not attend the talks. Furthermore, the interim government has refused to talk to separatists.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Berlin, said the more representative the talks were, the better. "The government in Kiev does not want to listen to the people of Donetsk," Denis Patkovski, a member of a pro-Russian militia in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, told the Associated Press news agency. "They just come here with their guns."
However, she added: "Clearly, people are only welcome if they can credibly show that they are prepared to reach their goals without violence." German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, currently visiting Ukraine, said he hoped that Wednesday's talks would lead to the separatists disarming and would also improve the atmosphere for the presidential election.
The talks come amid escalating violence in the east of Ukraine, where armed separatists continue to occupy key government buildings. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Berlin, said the more representative the talks were, the better. But she added: "Clearly, people are only welcome if they can credibly show that they are prepared to reach their goals without violence."
Russia denies fomenting the unrest. Armed separatists continue to occupy key government buildings in the east while Russia denies fomenting the unrest just over its border.
On Monday, pro-Russian activists who declared independence in Donetsk said that all Ukrainian troops in the region would be viewed as occupying forces and should leave.
Devolving power
Their leader, Denis Pushilin, called on Russia to "absorb" the region.
In neighbouring Luhansk region, separatists said a rebel leader narrowly survived an assassination attempt.
Self-declared governor Valery Bolotov was shot and had lost a lot of blood, but his life was not in danger, the press office of the "Luhansk People's Republic" said.
In an effort to defuse tensions, the Kiev-appointed governor of Donetsk region said on Tuesday that Ukraine was planning a national referendum on devolving power to regions.
Serhiy Taruta described Sunday's separatist referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk as "an opinion poll".
Russia annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea in March following a controversial referendum.
The Ukrainian government fears a similar outcome in Donetsk, Luhansk and parts of the south.
Nato believes some 40,000 Russian troops are deployed near Ukraine's border, although Moscow says they have been pulled back.Nato believes some 40,000 Russian troops are deployed near Ukraine's border, although Moscow says they have been pulled back.
Russia annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea in March following a controversial referendum and the Ukrainian interim government fears a similar outcome in Donetsk, Luhansk and parts of the south.
Are you in the Donetsk or Luhansk region, or elsewhere in Ukraine? Will you be voting in the presidential election on 25 May? What do you think of the "self-rule" referendums? You can send us your thoughts by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Ukraine".
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