Russia says no proof it sent troops, arms to east Ukraine

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Bernard Membe (not pictured) in Moscow, January 16, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sought to fend off fresh accusations from Kiev that Moscow is sending soldiers and weapons to Ukraine and said he hoped for progress at talks on the conflict on Wednesday despite renewed fighting.

Kiev accused Russian regular forces on Tuesday of attacking its troops in eastern Ukraine, one of its boldest assertions yet that Russia's military is directly involved in a conflict in which more than 4,800 people have died since last April.