RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak reports from Brussels:
Badly strained relations with Russia are expected to top the agenda at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on January 19.
The ministers are also likely to discuss heightened concerns about security and terrorism following attacks by Islamist militants in Paris.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said last week the meeting would focus on possible steps to "induce a policy change from Russia" in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between pro-Russian separatists and government forces has increased in recent days.
A document seen by RFE/RL suggested the ministers would be exploring "possible elements for selective and gradual reengagement" with Russia, citing areas of shared concern such as Syria, Iraq, and the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
IS and other militants are also likely to receive much attention at the ministers' meeting.
The January 7-9 attacks in Paris and last week's raids on suspected Islamists in Western Europe have raised fears about the potential threat from European citizens returning from wars on the battlefields in Syria and Iraq.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has joined other leaders voicing concern over an increase in fighting in the conflict between governing forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Ban said in a statement on January 18 that he was "alarmed by the severe escalation of fighting."
The UN chief called for "an immediate and full cessation of hostilities."
He said the fighting threatens to completely scuttle a 12-point peace plan signed by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the rebels in Minsk on September 5.
A Ukrainian military spokesman said on January 18 that four soldiers had been killed in the previous 24 hours, three of them in fierce fighting in which Kyiv says its forces took back almost all the territory of Donetsk airport lost to separatists in recent weeks.
Some reports said at least 14 people were killed over the weekend.
More than 4,700 people have been killed in the conflict since April.
Latest from our news desk:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has joined other leaders voicing concern over an increase in fighting in the conflict between governing forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Ban said in a statement on January 18 that he was "alarmed by the severe escalation of fighting."
The UN chief called for "an immediate and full cessation of hostilities."
He said the fighting threatens to completely scuttle a 12-point peace plan signed by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the rebels in Minsk on September 5.
A Ukrainian military spokesman said on January 18 that four soldiers had been killed in the previous 24 hours, three of them in fierce fighting in which Kyiv says its forces took almost all the territory of Donetsk airport lost to separatists in recent weeks.
Some reports said at least 14 people were killed over the weekend.
More than 4,700 people have been killed in the conflict since April
This from Ruptly TV. A bridge has been destroyed near Donetsk International Airport.
"The Putilovsky Bridge near Donetsk International Airport was destroyed during heavy fighting between Kiev forces and fighters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR/DPR), Sunday. The bridge was blown in half during shelling that accompanied an assault by Kiev forces on areas held by the DNR militias."