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Ukraine foes cast doubt on ceasefire Ukraine foes cast doubt on ceasefire
(about 4 hours 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 had "been no ceasefire".
And Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko warned he may end the truce due to "constant violation by rebels". Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko warned he might 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. Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has accused Russia of failing to "respect its international commitments".
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. In a statement, he said Moscow was "using a new different type of warfare against Ukraine" and he promised a "package of long-term support measures for Ukraine, including the creation of new trust funds".
The heavily armed rebels control key buildings in towns and cities across the east in defiance of the government in Kiev. Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists.
The UN says more than 420 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since mid-April. Insurgents had agreed on Monday to observe a ceasefire, proposed by the Ukrainian government, until Friday, but on Tuesday the Ukrainian military announced that separatists had shot down an Mi-8 helicopter outside the rebel-held city of Sloviansk, killing all nine people on board.
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's 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. The ceasefire is part of Ukraine's plan to end two months of fighting between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents who control key buildings in towns and cities across the east.
More than 420 people have been killed in the region since mid-April, the UN estimates.
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, KievAnalysis: 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. One would suspect that the Ukrainian government's truce in the east is now a dead letter. 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.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.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.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. Mr Poroshenko has instructed Ukrainian soldiers to fire back "without hesitation" if attacked and has not ruled out ending the ceasefire early, his office says.
"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. Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, accused government forces of launching attacks near the city of Donetsk and said there was effectively no ceasefire.
Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists. "In general, all that is left to us is to continue fighting," he told Russian television.
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. He was speaking as Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the Russian upper house of parliament to revoke a resolution from 1 March authorising him to send troops into Ukraine. A vote is expected on Wednesday.
"I say officially now that there has been no ceasefire and, judging by everything, there will not be any," he told Russian television. Mr Putin cautiously welcomed the truce but said he wanted Ukraine to begin direct talks with rebels, guaranteeing the rights of the Russian-speaking minority.
"In general, all that is left to us is to continue fighting," he added. Mr Rasmussen was speaking before a meeting of Nato foreign ministers which will discuss, among other things, how Nato can help build up the military capabilities of Ukraine, which is not a member.
On Monday, Mr Borodai had said his forces would observe the ceasefire until Friday morning. US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf has described the situation in Ukraine as "two steps forward, one step back". "We do see some positive signs on the ground," she told reporters.
US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf described the situation as "two steps forward, one step back". Washington 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.
"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 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.
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.
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'.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'.