Ukraine rebels agree to new armistice

A top Ukrainian insurgent said yesterday the rebels had agreed to an indefinite ceasefire negotiated by Russia and Ukraine that would go into effect this weekend.

The latest truce was hammered out with the help of European monitors and comes amid a surge in fighting that claimed the lives of eight Ukrainian soldiers this week.

Russia denies backing the rebels but the West and Kiev view them as Moscow proxies who initiated a 31-month conflict in Ukraine's industrial east to throw Kiev's pro-Western government off balance.