5 more Ukrainian forces killed as meeting with pro-Russian separatists canceled

Five Ukrainian service members were killed and nine wounded in the past 24 hours, Defense Ministry spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters Tuesday.

The news comes three days into a so-called ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The spokesman said Ukrainian troops are holding their positions in the embattled city of Debaltseve in response to rebels’ attacks.

On Monday, Lysenko reported five deaths from the previous day and at least 129 violations of the ceasefire since it went into effect at midnight Saturday night.

And a planned meeting between Ukrainian officials, pro-Russian separatists and Europeans about the shaky ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was canceled after one of the parties failed to show up, a European diplomat familiar with the talks told CNN.

It is not clear what other reasons there may be for the cancellation or how that reflects upon the ceasefire.

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