Putin calls on both sides in eastern Ukraine to lay down arms

Vladimir Putin has called on both sides in eastern Ukraine to lay down their arms and compromise, giving his strongest backing yet for the peace plan announced by Ukraine's new president, Petro Poroshenko.

"The fact that President Poroshenko has declared a ceasefire is without question an important step towards reaching a final settlement, and perhaps is one of the most important conditions for this to happen," said the Russian president yesterday. "Russia will certainly support these plans."

Mr Poroshenko announced on Friday that there would be a week-long unilateral ceasefire from pro-Kiev forces, which will end at 10am local time this Friday. During that time, he said, fighters would be able to cross safely into Russia or lay down their arms and go back to normal life. There was a “plan B” in the case the ceasefire did not work, presumably involving a renewed military assault. Fighters on the ground in Donetsk, east Ukraine, did not appear eager to surrender. They also claimed that Ukrainian forces had broken the ceasefire.

Mr Putin’s words are the strongest sign yet the Russian president will support Kiev’s attempts to regain control over the east, but they come during a period of mixed signals from the Kremlin. The Russian army on Saturday ordered unexpected drills in the central military region, putting the troops on combat alert. The region does not border Ukraine, but Kiev is unlikely to see the timing as coincidental, especially with reports of a new troop buildup closer to the border. – (Guardian service)