Germany's foreign minister on Tuesday tried to broker a quick launch of talks between Ukraine's central government and pro-Russia separatists, yet fighting still claimed six lives in restive eastern Ukraine. Six servicemen were ambushed and killed and eight others wounded Tuesday afternoon outside the town of Kramatorsk, the defense ministry said. The attackers included at least 30 insurgents and were using grenade launchers and automatic weapons, it said in a statement. Kramatorsk is in the Donetsk region, one of two in eastern Ukraine that declared independence on Monday. Earlier, speaking at Kiev's main airport, envoy Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany supports Ukraine's efforts to arrange for a dialogue between the central government and its opponents in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions that form the nation's industrial heartland. Pro-Russia insurgents have seized government buildings and clashed with government forces in eastern Ukraine in the past month and are holding some journalists and others hostage. Steinmeier voiced hope for a quick release of the hostages, the handover of occupied buildings and stressed the importance of holding Ukraine's presidential vote as planned on May 25. The Ukrainian government and the West have accused Russia of fomenting the mutiny in the east to derail Ukraine's presidential vote and possibly grab more land. Steinmeier's trip is part of the road map for settling Ukraine's crisis laid out by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a trans-Atlantic security group. TAGS: Ukrainian,Ukraine Protest,Ukraine Crisis,Ukraine Ex-Leader, Ukraine crisis: NATO chief Rasmussen says no Russian troop withdrawal seen Ukraine Crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout - Nato Ukraine Crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout Ukraine crisis: Putin 'orders partial withdrawal' Ukraine crisis: Nato sees 'no sign of Russian troop WITHDRAWAL Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin orders 'partial withdrawal' Ukraine crisis: Putin orders 'partial' troop pullout Ukraine crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout 'No sign of Russian troop pullout Russia vows no Ukraine invasion as leaders seek solution Ukraine crisis: NATO chief says no Russian troop Ukraine crisis: Russia 'withdrawing troops from border Russia announces withdrawal of a battalion from Ukrainian Crimea crisis: Ukrainian troops pull out Crimea: EU's actions have 'provoked Russia The Ukrainian Crisis Timeline 'No sign' of Russian troop pullout | USA TOP NEWS Ukraine crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout UPDATE 5-Russian prime minister angers Ukraine Ukraine crisis: No sign of Russian troop pullout Ukraine crisis: US troops land in Poland for exercises US troops arrive in Poland for exercises across Russia's Sergey Lavrov: U.S. 'running the show' in Kiev U.S. troops arrive in Poland for exercises amid Ukraine Ukraine crisis: UK RAF fighter jets scrambled to investigate Europe - US soldiers arrive in Poland as Ukraine crisis US troops arrive in Poland for exercises across Eastern US Troops Arrive in Poland for Exercises Across Eastern Ukraine crisis: US troops arrive in Poland Ukraine crisis: US troops land in Poland for exercises First American troops land in Poland for exercises Ukraine Crisis US Troops Land In Poland: Amid Tensions US troops arrive in Poland amid Ukraine crisis US troops land in Poland for exercises US Paratroopers in Poland for Joint Exercises First US troops land in Poland Ukraine crisis: G7 'to intensify Russia sanctions' G7 'to intensify Russia sanctions' Ukraine crisis: G7 agree new sanctions on Russia Swift, new sanctions to be imposed on Russia G7 leaders agree to swift new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine Crisis G7 agrees to impose new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine crisis Ukraine crisis: G7 imposes more sanctions on Russia Ukraine Crisis: G7 Leaders Agree On New Russia Ukraine PM Yatsenyuk accuses Russia of wanting war G7 promises to 'move swiftly' with sanctions against Russia G7 to 'move swiftly' on more Russia sanctions G7 leaders to impose further sanctions on Russia West to impose more sanctions on Russia Russia to face new sanctions over Ukraine crisis by G7 powers Ukraine crisis: G7 summit to discuss action against Russia Ukraine crisis: G7 commits to Russia sanctions Ukraine crisis: Pentagon says Russian jets violated airspace Russia's Role in Ukraine G7 leaders agree to impose new sanctions G7 agrees new Russia sanctions over Ukraine

• published: 13 May 2014
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