Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has said Ukraine is “still a long way from peace” and expressed doubts that the peace treaty signed in Minsk will hold.
Several nations have voiced concern about fresh violence in eastern Ukraine, with a ceasefire due on Sunday.
The G7 group of nations is threatening to take action if an agreement - hammered out in Minsk yesterday morning - is broken. The ceasefire, agreed between Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is due to come into effect on Sunday.
Poroshenko spent 17 hours negotiating the deal. Speaking to soldiers at a military training base, he said he remains doubtful of a lasting peace.
“I don’t want anyone to have any illusions and I don’t want to look like a naive person. We are still a very long way from peace. Nobody has a strong belief that the peace conditions that were signed in Minsk will be implemented.”
Over 25 people have been killed as fighting continues in eastern Ukraine ahead of the planned ceasefire.
Russian-backed separatists have mounted a major, sustained offensive to capture a strategic railway hub.
Independent European monitors are being sent to the region to ensure all groups respect the truce.
