Deadly clashes rock Ukraine

Shelling in Donetsk and Luhansk, which began Tuesday, has continued into Wednesday and caused at least five civilian deaths. Dozens more have been injured.

According to comments made by Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko on Wednesday, Russia's military is present in the area.

"A significant number of Russian soldiers without identifiable insignia have been spotted in Luhansk region," Lysenko told journalists. "There is continued mass shelling of positions and a desire by rebels to expand the territory under their control."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied the claims.

"I say every time: if you allege this so confidently, present the facts," Lavrov said before departing for Berlin for talks with his Ukrainian, French, and German counterparts. "Before demanding from us that we stop doing something, please present proof that we have done it."

Berlin meeting to restore calm

Lavrov did say that pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine were occupying more territory than had been agreed to in a September ceasefire agreement, but had received assurances that they would retreat to the separations lines that been defined in Minsk.

The talks later on Wednesday will seek to put a lid on the latest tensions that have rocked eastern Ukraine. A ceasefire in place between Ukrainian forces and the pro-Russian rebels since September is shakier than ever, and Lavrov stated on Wednesday he wanted to avoid another Cold War.

One of the main goals of the meeting in Berlin will be to reach an agreement that will see heavy weaponry pulled back from the disputed regions.

No matter what the outcome, eastern Ukraine will likely remain tense for some time to come.

"The frontline in the battle for Europe's freedom and democracy is in Ukraine," said Poroshenko in an interview with Switzerland's Neue Zuricher Zeitung newspaper on Wednesday.

mz/sms (dpa, AFP, AP)