Fighting in Ukraine Overshadows Peace Talks
Fighting continues to intensify in Ukraine as peace talks begin Wednesday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
On Tuesday, more than 20 people were reported dead, 19 of whom were Ukrainian soldiers, after a shelling by pro-Russian rebels.
Overnight Wednesday in the city of Donestk, five more people were killed.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Holland are taking part in the four-way summit.
Poroshenko said Wednesday's summit is one of the last chances for an unconditional ceasefire. He wants all foreign troops to withdraw and says he's prepared to introduce martial law if necessary.
"I, the government and the parliament, are ready to take the decision to introduce martial law in all the territories of Ukraine," he reportedly said. "We are for peace, [but] our country needs to be defended and we will do that to the end."
