( CNN ) -- Ukraine is days away from getting a new president , though seemingly much longer from securing a lasting peace -- as demonstrated yet again Thursday , with its military and separatists continuing to face off in eastern and southern parts of the country . As has been true for weeks , the deadly clashes are centered in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions . Pro-Russian separatists have seized two military bases , and civilian deaths have been reported . Ukrainian National Guard troops on Thursday blocked the main road between the cities of Donetsk and Slovyansk , a hotbed for separatists . Slovyansk itself appeared relatively calm , though there was a real potential the area could erupt at any moment with military and separatist positions separated by less than 1 kilometer . In nearby Krasny Liman , a Ukrainian flag flew over City Hall after government troops took over that community from separatist forces . This turnover followed two days of heavy fighting , with residents reporting they heard firing overnight . Still , any celebration had to be muted by the fact that militants remain close by , dug in on a main road several miles east of the city . These tensions simmered while , hundreds of miles away in Brussels , Belgium , the situation in Ukraine dominated a meeting of G7 leaders . U.S. President Barack Obama threatened more economic sanctions against Russia -- which many in the West accuse of fomenting instability and violence in Ukraine by allowing weapons into the region and supporting separatists -- unless it takes key steps in the coming weeks . Obama warns Russia about continued meddling . Those include recognizing Petro Poroshenko , who recently won the first national election since the unrest began last November , as Ukraine 's President when he is inaugurated Saturday . Until now , the Kremlin has refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Kiev-based government that took over after the ouster of then-President Viktor Yanukovych . Neither Poroshenko nor his Russian counterpart , Vladimir Putin , ruled out the possibility of meeting when they are in France over the coming days . If they do , they 'll have their work cut out for them , given the deep divisions about what 's happened in Ukraine and what should happen next . Still , the two countries appear to be coming together at least in one respect : Russia 's ambassador to Ukraine , Mikhail Zurabov , will attend Poroshenko 's inauguration , according to state-run RIA Novosti . `` [ Zurabov ] is returning to Kiev in order to continue executing his functions , '' added Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich . Conflicting accounts in heightened eastern Ukraine fighting . Obama vows to stand with Ukraine as he meets President-elect in Poland . CNN 's Tim Lister contributed to this report .
Russia : State media : Russian media reporters go to Ukraine president 's inauguration . Ukraine 's capital , Kiev regions remain focal points of unrest . Ukrainian troops block a main road between Donetsk and Kiev . The government takes over in Liman , though militants are dug in nearby .