Pro-Russian separatists have intensified shelling on Ukrainian government forces as world leaders try to hammer out a desperate peace deal to calm violence in the embattled country. Seven civilians and five Ukrainian troops were killed during fighting in eastern Ukraine today - and at least 26 soldiers have been injured - government and rebel officials confirmed. A recent upsurge in violence has forced France and Germany's leaders to intervene - in a bid to broker a new peace treaty between warring sides. But there is no guarantee the talks will work, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told an international security conference in Munich today.
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Five Ukrainian soldiers died and 26 have been injured in the past 24 hours
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French and German leaders desperately trying to reach a new peace deal
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Angela Merkel has said there are no guarantees the talks will stop fighting
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Deal could include greater autonomy for the separatists' eastern region
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Russian Foreign Minister blames US and Europe for 'inflaming the crisis'
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Sergey Lavrov has accused West of wanting to arm government soldiers
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He indicated he did not want any peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine, saying they would not be needed if foreign fighters were withdrawn and the @placeholder-Russia border sealed.