Kiev

Ukrainians voted on Oct. 26 in an election that is likely to install a pro-Western parliament and strengthen President Petro Poroshenko's mandate to end separatist conflict in the east, but may fuel tension with Russia.

Pro-Russian forces plan to "retake towns"

DONETSK -- Forces of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) plan to take the towns of Slaviansk, Kramatorsk and Mariupol, Aleksandr Zakharchenko has said.

The prime minister of the self-proclaimed republic explained that "periods of intensive hostilities will follow."

Chamber of Deputies' Speaker Valeriu Zgonea said on Wednesday that the phone talk United States Vice President Joe Biden had on Tuesday with Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on regional and security issues proves that the Romanian PM is already perceived by Romania's allies as the main partner of dialogue on the hot issues that top the agenda of this part of Europe.

Putin meets with Merkel and Poroshenko

MILAN -- Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Milan with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Putin and Merkel stated that there are still serious differences in their opinions regarding the Ukrainian crisis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko late on Thursday.

Merkel's initiative on the sidelines the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan, hours before Putin and Poroshenko are expected to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear Gazprom will increase direct deliveries to EU countries if Ukraine "steals" transit gas pumped through its territory.

He made his comments while on a visit to Serbia.

Interests of the local population and businesses within the EU in the South Stream pipeline project should be taken into consideration, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced.

Ukraine's state-owned energy utility Naftogaz does not agree on prepayment of gas it receives by Russia, the country's Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said.

Prodan added Kiev would insist to transfer instalments based on the delivered volumes.

The Ukrainian government has confirmed that thousands of Russian soldiers are withdrawing from the Russian territories bordering Ukraine.

Kiev has nevertheless warned Moscow is still allowing fighters to enter Ukraine and joint pro-Russian rebels who control parts of the Donbass region, the website Lenta.ru reports.

Up to twelve people could have died in the city of Donetsk in Ukraine's east since Saturday, according to various reports.

Donetsk's city council said in a statement on Sunday that four were killed and 11 left wounded after heavy fighting. A few hours later it announced the situation had deescalated.