Peace talks in Ukraine suffer latest setback as civilians are killed

Peace talks in Ukraine suffered a new setback on Friday, while civilians were killed on both sides during heavy fighting.

Negotiations were expected to begin in Minsk on Friday, but rebel delegates flew to the Belorussian capital only to announce they would not participate to the meeting, which would have been the first since a five-month truce came to an end last week, and flew back to Moscow.

With neither Kiev nor Moscow reportedly ready to open peace talks, the arrival in Minsk of two rebel negotiators had nevertheless raised hope of a possible negotiation. However, pro-Russian separatists made clear that talks remained a difficult proposition.

"If shelling resumes, then we reserve for ourselves the right to continue the offensive and go to the very borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," Denis Pushilin, one of the rebel delegates, said.

Separatist forces reported seven people had been killed in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, claiming the city had come under attack by government forces, while Kiev said the rebels had carried out the shelling to disrupt the chance of any negotiations taking place.

A further seven civilians were reportedly killed in Debaltseve, to the east of Donetsk, after their homes were targeted by pro-Russian rebels, regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin said in a Facebook post. Abroskin had previously reported that seven civilians had also been confirmed dead on Thursday, as battle intensified in the government-held city.

The town, alongside with neighbouring Vuhlehirsk, are considered of crucial strategic importance as they represent a key road and rail junction in the east of Ukraine, as rebel forces have successfully cut off food and water supplies as they close in on the area.

"They are repeatedly using Grad (missiles), artillery, mortars, tanks and rocket launchers," Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian government, said in a televised briefing.

On Thursday, European Union foreign ministers agreed at an emergency meeting to extend for another six months economic sanctions against Russia that had been due to expire soon, while Washington has said it will tighten its own sanctions.