Ukraine President announces ceasefire

Slovyanogirsk: Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said on Friday that a week-long unilateral ceasefire would begin in the separatist east later in the day to give the pro-Russian rebels a chance to disarm.

“Today, on June 20, the ceasefire should begin. It will last through June 27,” Mr Poroshenko said.

Meanwhile, according to reports, seven Ukrainian troops and as many as 300 pro-Russian rebels were killed in overnight fighting in the restive east, an official said.

The figures for the scores of dead pro-Russian separatists could not be independently confirmed, though a rebel commander had said on Thursday that the rebels sustained “heavy losses” when they were outgunned by government forces backed by heavy armour.

Mr Poroshenko also discussed the details of his peace plan with the Russian President. The rebels have rejected the peace plan.