DHAKA: European foreign ministers are meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine, where the authorities have launched a crackdown on pro-Russian separatists.

Austria hopes backing will be given to this month's presidential election at the Council of Europe summit in Vienna, reports the BBC.

It comes a day after Ukrainian security forces began an ‘anti-terrorism operation’ in the country’s east.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said four soldiers and an estimated 30 separatists were killed near Sloviansk.

He claimed that up to 800 well-armed and well-trained militants were hiding among civilians in the town, where government buildings have been seized and checkpoints set up.

A local citizen journalist reports that 17 separatists were killed on Monday.

BDST: 1426 HRS, MAY 06, 2014