Ukraine peace talks cancelled as 24 killed in latest clashes

A new round of peace talks between Ukraine and pro-Russia rebels was cancelled on Friday after government officials failed to show up, a rebel spokesman said.

“The foreign ministry of Belarus confirmed today that Kiev won’t come, the talks have been cancelled,” separatist envoy  Denis Pushilin told reporters in the Belarussian capital Minsk.

Twenty-four people, including 19 civilians, were killed in the past 24 hours in clashes between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine, officials said on Friday.

Pro-Kiev officials in the separatist region of Donetsk said dozens of people were also wounded in shelling across the industrial province. The Ukrainian military said 23 soldiers were injured in the fighting, which has claimed at least 5,100 lives over the last nine months.

Seven civilians died overnight in rebel-held Donetsk and five more early on Friday when a food distribution centre was hit, city hall officials said.