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| Ukraine foes cast doubt on ceasefire | Ukraine foes cast doubt on ceasefire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Both sides in the Ukraine conflict have cast doubt on a newly called ceasefire, following the downing of a military helicopter on Tuesday. | Both sides in the Ukraine conflict have cast doubt on a newly called ceasefire, following the downing of a military helicopter on Tuesday. |
| Pro-Russia separatist leader Alexander Borodai said that in his view "there has been no ceasefire". | Pro-Russia separatist leader Alexander Borodai said that in his view "there has been no ceasefire". |
| And Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko warned he may end the truce due to "constant violation by rebels". | And Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko warned he may end the truce due to "constant violation by rebels". |
| Insurgents had agreed on Monday to observe a ceasefire, proposed by the Ukrainian government, until Friday. | Insurgents had agreed on Monday to observe a ceasefire, proposed by the Ukrainian government, until Friday. |
| But hours later, the Ukrainian military said separatists had shot down an Mi-8 helicopter outside the rebel-held city of Sloviansk, killing all nine people on board. | But hours later, the Ukrainian military said separatists had shot down an Mi-8 helicopter outside the rebel-held city of Sloviansk, killing all nine people on board. |
| The heavily armed rebels control key buildings in towns and cities across the east in defiance of the government in Kiev. | |
| The UN says more than 420 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since mid-April. | The UN says more than 420 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since mid-April. |
| Mr Poroshenko declared the ceasefire on Friday as part of a plan to end two months of fighting between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents in the east. | Mr Poroshenko declared the ceasefire on Friday as part of a plan to end two months of fighting between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents in the east. |
| But in a statement on Tuesday, his office said gunmen had attacked government forces on 35 occasions since he ordered his troops to hold their fire. | But in a statement on Tuesday, his office said gunmen had attacked government forces on 35 occasions since he ordered his troops to hold their fire. |
| Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | |
| One would suspect that the Ukrainian government's truce in the east is now a dead letter. President Petro Poroshenko's plans to respond to the attack are still unclear, but public outrage alone would seem to demand some sort of military retaliation. | |
| And if the Ukrainian government uses force, then very likely the Ukrainian insurgents and their Russian comrades-in-arms will answer in kind. An escalation seems inevitable. | |
| At this point, it is close to impossible to determine why the militants decided to carry out such a provocative act, just one day after they declared a ceasefire. Maybe this was some rogue element. Maybe the insurgents were never serious. Maybe Moscow told them to do it. | |
| Whatever the reason, the hopes of just 24 hours ago, that Ukraine's east could finally see peace, if only temporarily, ring especially hollow. | |
| It said Mr Poroshenko had instructed Ukrainian soldiers to fire back "without hesitation" if attacked. | It said Mr Poroshenko had instructed Ukrainian soldiers to fire back "without hesitation" if attacked. |
| "The head of state does not exclude that the ceasefire regime may be revoked ahead of schedule in view of its constant violation by rebels who are controlled from abroad," the statement said. | "The head of state does not exclude that the ceasefire regime may be revoked ahead of schedule in view of its constant violation by rebels who are controlled from abroad," the statement said. |
| Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists. | Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists. |
| Then, in a further sign that the truce might be unravelling, Alexander Borodai, leader of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, said he saw no point keeping to the ceasefire. | |
| "I say officially now that there has been no ceasefire and, judging by everything, there will not be any," he told Russian television. | "I say officially now that there has been no ceasefire and, judging by everything, there will not be any," he told Russian television. |
| "In general, all that is left to us is to continue fighting," he added. | "In general, all that is left to us is to continue fighting," he added. |
| On Monday, Mr Borodai had said his forces would observe the ceasefire until Friday morning. | On Monday, Mr Borodai had said his forces would observe the ceasefire until Friday morning. |
| US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf described the situation as "two steps forward, one step back". | US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf described the situation as "two steps forward, one step back". |
| "We do see some positive signs on the ground," she told reporters. | "We do see some positive signs on the ground," she told reporters. |
| "The ceasefire, some separatists have accepted it, but the same day some other separatists shot down a helicopter." | "The ceasefire, some separatists have accepted it, but the same day some other separatists shot down a helicopter." |
| The US says it is considering further sanctions against Russia if it fails to rein in the separatists and continues - as the White House claims - to supply them with weapons. | The US says it is considering further sanctions against Russia if it fails to rein in the separatists and continues - as the White House claims - to supply them with weapons. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautiously welcomed the truce but said he wants Ukraine to begin direct talks with rebels, guaranteeing the rights of the Russian-speaking minority. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautiously welcomed the truce but said he wants Ukraine to begin direct talks with rebels, guaranteeing the rights of the Russian-speaking minority. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Putin asked Russia's parliament to revoke the right of military intervention it had granted him in March to defend Russian-speakers in Ukraine. | On Tuesday, Mr Putin asked Russia's parliament to revoke the right of military intervention it had granted him in March to defend Russian-speakers in Ukraine. |
| Since then, Russia has annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula - a move condemned by Ukraine and Western leaders. | Since then, Russia has annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula - a move condemned by Ukraine and Western leaders. |
| President Petro Poroshenko welcomed Mr Putin's call as a "first practical step". | President Petro Poroshenko welcomed Mr Putin's call as a "first practical step". |
| On Friday, Mr Poroshenko is due to sign a free trade agreement with the EU - a pact that was rejected in January by then President Viktor Yanukovych under heavy pressure from Russia. | On Friday, Mr Poroshenko is due to sign a free trade agreement with the EU - a pact that was rejected in January by then President Viktor Yanukovych under heavy pressure from Russia. |
| Are you in Ukraine? How has the unrest affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'. |