Death toll rises in Ukraine ahead of peace talks
Negotiators in Belarus are still trying to narrow differences ahead of Wednesday's planned peace summit.
(File Photo) Buildings burn after a shelling struck the outskirts of the small southern Ukrainian city of Novoazovsk, Donetsk region
More than 20 people have died in violence in eastern Ukraine as the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany prepare for peace talks.
Nineteen Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, many of them in a town which pro-Russian rebels say they have surrounded.
Five people were reported killed by shelling in rebel-held Donetsk.
Negotiators in Belarus are still trying to narrow differences ahead of Wednesday's planned peace summit.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending troops and arms to support the rebels, but Russia denies these allegations.
The summit in the Belarusian capital Minsk is expected to focus on securing a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons, as well as the creation of a demilitarised zone.
More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began. Civilian casualties have risen in recent weeks, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.
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.
