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| Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko declares ceasefire | Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko declares ceasefire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has declared a week-long unilateral ceasefire in fighting with pro-Russian militants in the east of the country. | Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has declared a week-long unilateral ceasefire in fighting with pro-Russian militants in the east of the country. |
| Heavy fighting had been continuing between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia rebels, with new reports of military hardware entering Ukraine. | Heavy fighting had been continuing between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia rebels, with new reports of military hardware entering Ukraine. |
| The ceasefire had been expected ahead of the implementation of a peace plan. | The ceasefire had been expected ahead of the implementation of a peace plan. |
| However, correspondents say pro-Russian insurgents seem to have no intention of laying down their arms. | However, correspondents say pro-Russian insurgents seem to have no intention of laying down their arms. |
| Mr Poroshenko said the ceasefire "doesn't mean we won't fight back against any aggression towards our troops" but that it was intended to give rebels time to disarm. | |
| "We will do everything to protect the territory of our state," he said. | "We will do everything to protect the territory of our state," he said. |
| Ukrainian news agencies quoted a senior rebel commander as saying the insurgents would not lay their arms until government troops had left the region. | Ukrainian news agencies quoted a senior rebel commander as saying the insurgents would not lay their arms until government troops had left the region. |
| The ceasefire comes a day after Mr Poroshenko held his second phone conversation this week with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. | The ceasefire comes a day after Mr Poroshenko held his second phone conversation this week with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. |
| The peace plan proposed by Mr Poroshenko promises to decentralise power and hold early local and parliamentary elections. | The peace plan proposed by Mr Poroshenko promises to decentralise power and hold early local and parliamentary elections. |
| It also proposes the creation of a 10km (6 mile) buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border, and a safe corridor for pro-Russian separatists to leave the conflict areas. | It also proposes the creation of a 10km (6 mile) buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border, and a safe corridor for pro-Russian separatists to leave the conflict areas. |
| Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | |
| Many of the details of President Poroshenko's peace proposal are already known: a unilateral ceasefire, peace talks, increased autonomy to the regions, protection for the Russian language. What is unclear is how he intends to implement it, and what the reaction from the other side will be. | |
| However, the pro-Russian insurgents seem to have no intention of laying down their arms, or even observing the ceasefire at all. | |
| Russia likewise is sending highly mixed signals. President Putin has reacted favourably to Mr Poroshenko's proposal, and the two men are in communication. | |
| But Ukrainian and Western officials say Moscow has resumed its troop build-up on the border. And there have been reports of Russian fighters, and possibly heavy military hardware, crossing into Ukraine. | |
| Mr Poroshenko obviously is aware of all these realities. What remains to be seen is what he plans to do if the peace plan fails. | |
| The latest developments come amid tension between Russia and Ukraine over the removal of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia's annexation of Crimea. | |
| Mr Poroshenko said on Thursday he would sign a controversial association agreement with the EU on 27 June. | |
| Mr Yanukovych was overthrown in February after refusing to sign the deal at the last moment. |