Mortar Attacks Before Ukraine Peace Talks

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Four people have been killed in mortar attacks on a bus station and a metals plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, as leaders gathered for peace talks in Belarus.

"A bus driver died as a result of mortar fire at a bus station in the centre of Donetsk," a spokesman for the pro-Russian separatists told AFP.

An employee of the metals plant said three people including two guards had lost their lives during an attack on the smelter.

President Barack Obama has urged his Russian counterpart to reach a deal to end the 10-month Ukraine conflict.

Mr Obama spoke with President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call on the eve of the discussions.

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Gallery: Ukraine Crisis: Fighting Intensifies

A destroyed Ukrainian Army tank outside Uglegorsk, 6km (4m) southwest of Debaltseve

Pro-Russian separatists' ammunition and an armoured vehicle in Uglegorsk. The EU has put fresh sanctions against Moscow on hold ahead of further talks to thrash out a lasting peace deal

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A pro-Russian separatist fighter. President Barack Obama said the United States had no desire to "weaken" Russia, but the West had to impose a penalty for Moscow's aggression in Ukraine

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Part of a Ukrainian Army tank destroyed in fighting

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Pro-Russian separatist fighters ride on the top of an armoured vehicle

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In a statement released afterwards, the White House said Mr Obama warned Mr Putin the "costs for Russia will rise" if a peaceful solution is not found.

"If Russia continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise," the statement said.

The Kremlin said the two leaders highlighted the need for a political solution to the "internal" conflict in Ukraine, which has killed more than 5,300 people since April.

Moscow added that Mr Obama and Mr Putin noted the necessity to safeguard the rights of inhabitants of all Ukrainian regions, including Russian-speakers in the country's east.

The summit in the Belarus capital follows last week's discussions between Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko, led by Germany and France.

Mr Putin is scheduled to meet Mr Poroshenko and the leaders of France and Germany at today's summit.

The talks are expected to focus on withdrawing heavy weapons, creating a demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine and starting a dialogue between Kiev and the rebels.

On Tuesday, rockets killed more than 10 civilians and soldiers in Ukrainian government-held territory and rebels pushed ahead with an assault on a rail junction.

Mr Obama has come under increasing pressure to provide military aid to Ukraine amid claims Russia has been arming the rebels with heavy weaponry - claims denied by Moscow.

After meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington on Monday, Mr Obama said he had ordered his team to see "whether there are additional things we can do to help Ukraine bolster its defences in the face of Russian aggression".

Britain has said it will keep its decision not to arm Ukraine under review as it "could not allow" its armed forces to "collapse".

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