Petro Poroshenko said the current ceasefire had changed the situation "drastically", despite reports that rebels had captured another town.

 

One rebel leader in Donetsk dismissed his comments and said they intended to break away and become independent. 

 

The truce¹ came into effect last Friday in a deal signed in Belarus and backed by Ukraine, the separatists and Russia.

 

More than 2,600 people have been killed since fighting between pro-Russian rebels and government forces erupted in April.

 

Mr Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke² by phone on Tuesday and said they were satisfied with how the truce was holding, a Kremlin official confirmed.

 

Speaking during a televised meeting with his government, Ukraine's leader said that implementing³ the truce had been "difficult" in the midst of a "war for the independence and integrity" of the country. 

 

But he added: "The situation has radically⁴ changed at the front. Before the ceasefire was announced, Ukraine was losing the lives of dozens of its heroes on a daily basis."

 

Although Russia has consistently denied sending troops into Ukraine, Mr Poroshenko said the latest intelligence suggested "70% of Russian troops have been moved back across the border".

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