Updated

Fighting is continuing to rage in eastern Ukraine ahead of crucial peace talks later in the day.

Shelling early Wednesday rocked a bus station in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, where an Associated Press reporter saw one body at a bus station and was told by rebel officials that another body had been recently removed from the scene. Donetsk city officials said in a statement that three people had been killed overnight.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko posted a statement on his website saying that he had made an impromptu visit to the war-torn region early Wednesday.

"We demand an unconditional peace," Poroshenko said. "We demand a cease-fire, a withdrawal of all foreign troops, and closing of the border. ... We will find a compromise within the country."