Fighting is still raging on the outskirts of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine despite peace talks this week.
Russia and Ukraine agreed in Berlin yesterday to call for the withdrawal of smaller calibre weapons from the front lines of the conflict that has claimed more than 6,000 lives.
On the ground, however, even the previous agreement that called for a ceasefire and a withdrawal of heavy weaponry appeared to be shaky.
Heavy shelling was heard in Donetsk late last night and in the early hours of today. Rebel mouthpiece Donetsk News Agency reported one rebel fighter dead and five wounded in the overnight clashes.
The fighting appeared to be focused on the now-obliterated Donetsk airport and the village of Shyrokyne by the Azov Sea in the south.
Yesterday, Russia and Ukraine agreed to call for the withdrawal of smaller calibre weapons from the eastern Ukraine front line as part of a fresh push to end the region's year-long conflict.
Foreign ministers from the two countries also agreed to support international monitors and establish four working groups to address the most pressing issues faced by people in the embattled region, where Russian-backed separatists are fighting Ukrainian government forces.
The meeting in Berlin also involved the French and German foreign ministers.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who hosted the meeting, insisted afterwards that the parties had no alternative but to abide by agreements forged in the Belarusian capital Minsk in February and September.
"Everyone knows that we have a long path ahead of us," he said. "But we're going to do everything we can to continue this process."
He said the new deal calls for the withdrawal of mortars and heavy weapons below 100mm (3.94in) calibre, as well as all types of tanks.
Mr Steinmeier said the four diplomats also agreed on the need to establish four working groups to address security issues, and the process for holding a local election in rebel-occupied areas.
The groups will also attempt to restart the exchange of prisoners of war, and to improve the dire economic situation in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the parties were unable to agree on Ukraine's demands for the deployment of peacekeepers.
He also criticised laws passed recently by the Ukrainian parliament, which he said were eroding the Minsk deal.
"We underlined the need to fulfill the Minsk agreements in their entirety, not just in the military segment, but also in political, economic and humanitarian spheres," Mr Lavrov said.