Ukraine And Pro-Russian Rebels Agree Ceasefire

The Ukrainian government has agreed a ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko confirmed on his Twitter account that a peace plan had been signed, while pro-Russian rebels also announced the news on the social media site.

The deal came into force at 4pm UK time, but just minutes later a number of explosions were reported north of the eastern city of Donetsk.

Mr Poroshenko, who has been attending a Nato summit in Wales, said the agreement followed a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

"Human life is the highest value and we must do everything possible and impossible to end the bloodshed and the suffering," said the Ukrainian President.

Nato leaders watch a fly-past at the summit in Newport

One of the terms of the ceasefire is the release of Ukrainian hostages in the next 24 hours, Mr Poroshenko added.

Talks have been taking place between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels in the Belarussian capital, Minsk. Representatives of Russia and the OSCE security watchdog have also been at the discussions.

Separately, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said in a televised cabinet meeting in Kiev that the peace plan must include three key elements - a ceasefire, the withdrawal of "Russian forces and Russian bandits and terrorists" and the restoration of Ukraine's state border with Russia.

Sky's Katie Stallard, who is on eastern city limits of Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, said the shelling had continued following the announcement of the ceasefire.

"There is very little confidence among people here on the ground in a ceasefire," she said.

Ukrainian soldiers respond as separatists fire heavy artillery in Mariupol

"People on the checkpoints on the city limits today say that every single previous ceasefire, they have still been fired upon.

"They fully expect that to happen again after whatever is announced today."

Meanwhile, Nato announced plans to create a 'Spearhead' rapid-response force to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine.

But Moscow said joint military exercises planned by Kiev and Nato in Ukraine - and announced along with the Spearhead force - could undermine peace moves.

Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that military exercises - planned for September 16-26 - would cause "increased tensions, threaten the tentative progress in the peace process in Ukraine and contribute to the aggravation of a split in the Ukraine society."

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