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KYIV, Ukraine — Germany’s foreign minister on Tuesday tried to broker a quick launch of talks between Ukraine’s central government and pro-Russia separatists, yet fighting still claimed six lives in restive eastern Ukraine.

Six servicemen were ambushed and killed and eight others wounded Tuesday afternoon outside the town of Kramatorsk, the defence ministry said. The attackers included at least 30 insurgents and were using grenade launchers and automatic weapons, it said in a statement.

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Kramatorsk is in the Donetsk region, one of two in eastern Ukraine that declared independence on Monday.

Earlier, speaking at Kyiv’s main airport, envoy Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany supports Ukraine’s efforts to arrange for a dialogue between the central government and its opponents in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions that form the nation’s industrial heartland.

Pro-Russia insurgents have seized government buildings and clashed with government forces in eastern Ukraine in the past month and are holding some journalists and others hostage. Steinmeier voiced hope for a quick release of the hostages, the handover of occupied buildings and stressed the importance of holding Ukraine’s presidential vote as planned on May 25.