Russian President Vladimir Putin (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine to "stop advancing" and for the Ukrainian army to withdraw their troops from the region.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said earlier Wednesday that Kiev and Moscow agreed on a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine but Putin's spokesman said later Moscow was not in a position to agree to it because it is not party to the conflict.
Putin was quoted by Russian news agencies on Wednesday saying that Kiev must withdraw its troops and stop artillery strikes. Putin said he expected the final agreements to be reached in Minsk, Belarus, on Friday.