Kiev

Representatives of Ukraine, the EU, Russia and the US are to discuss the situation in Eastern and Southern Ukraine in Thursday's meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

The diplomatic effort is virtually under way, as Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya was reported to have met EU's High Representative on Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton.

Three pro-Russian separatists were killed in South-Eastern Ukraine's Mariupol, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on Thursday.

Avakov added 13 activists were injured and 65 arrested in clashes with Ukrainian forces sent to conduct an "anti-terrorist" operation in response to recent riots.

Officials confident in Ukraine's planned May 25th election

By Jan Lopatka & Christoph Steitz

Unprecedented talks across the European Union on Tuesday showed it scrambling for solutions on the ground to break its dependence on Russian gas and help supply Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was "on the verge of civil war" and described the actions of Ukraine's military in the east as "unacceptable".

Putin made the first comment during a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whereas the second was in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as RIA Novosti reported.

Putin: Escalation takes Ukraine to brink of civil war

MOSCOW -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have had a telephone conversation about the situation in Ukraine.

Kremlin threatens gas supplies to Southeast Europe

Several nations receive Russian gas via Ukraine. In other business news: Albania's credit rating sees improvement and Turkey's military spending surpasses Canada.

The EU says Russia should not politicise its contractual shipments of gas. [AFP]

EU, NATO call on Russia to 'stop being part of the problem' in Ukraine

A group of demonstrators have attempted to storm the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) building in Ukraine's capital Kiev on Tuesday.

Some 20-30 people demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov attempted to break into the Parliament building, but were stopped by guards, ITAR-TASS reported. Some of the demonstrators were from the extremist Right Sector group.

German RWE has started delivering gas to Ukraine via Poland.

RWE uses the services of Polish gas-transit company Gaz System, which has reported it will provide to Ukraine around 4 M cubic meters of gas on Wednesday, April 16, according to RBC Daily.