As fighting in eastern Ukraine intensifies, separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying he no longer planned to seek ceasefire talks with Kyiv authorities. <br /><br /> While Moscow pushes for all sides to come together, the rebels claim to hold more territory than was agreed under a ceasefire deal last September.<br /><br /> One rebel commander, who gave his name as ‘Sever’, said: “What ceasefire again? I don’t understand. No ceasefire! They came and they have to die. Push them away, push them away, push them away.”<br /><br /> The United Nations now puts the death toll in the conflict at more than 5,000 including 262 killed in the last 9 days.<br /><br /> Kyiv forces all but abandoned Donetsk International Airport when rebels took control after months of bitter battles.<br /><br /> Reopening the runway would allow the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic establish a viable economic entity.<br /><br /> But pro-Kyiv forces have said they “are not giving up an inch of Ukraine.”
