11 Ukrainian troops killed less than 24h after pro-Russians agreed to ceasefire. #Poroshenko doesn't exclude ending ceasefire before June 27
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) June 24, 2014
We're now closing the live blog for today. We'll leave you with this update from our news desk. (Don't forget you can follow all our ongoing Ukraine coverage here):
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he may prematurely terminate a weeklong cease-fire because of attacks by pro-Russian separatists who also shot down a Ukrainian helicopter.
Poroshenko's statement today came after nine Ukrainian servicemen died when an Mi-8 military helicopter was hit by a rocket and crashed near the eastern city of Slovyansk.
That incident comes amid separatist attacks on Ukrainian military vehicles at the Donetsk airport early this morning and at checkpoints and border stations overnight that led to several injuries and one death.
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine agreed yesterday to observe a temporary cease-fire until June 27.
Poroshenko declared a one-week cease-fire on June 20 as part of a peace plan to end fighting between government troops and the insurgents that has killed hundreds.
Poroshenko said insurgents have fired on Ukrainian positions 35 times since then.
Good morning. We'll start our live blog today with this update from our news desk, summarizing the international response to the fatal shooting down of a Ukrainian helicopter in the east of the country:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has warned he may scrap a cease-fire after pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian helicopter.
The White House says U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko yesterday and "offered condolences" for the deaths of nine servicemen who were killed when separatists shot down the helicopter they were travelling in.
That incident near the eastern city of Slovyansk yesterday evening came amid attacks by pro-Russian insurgents on Donetsk airport and checkpoints that led to several injuries and one death, despite separatist leaders agreeing on June 23 to a cease-fire that had been declared by Poroshenko.
In his telephone call, Biden also highlighted "the importance of having monitors in place to verify violations of the cease-fire, as well as the need to stop the supply of weapons and militants from across the border."
It was Biden's third call with Poroshenko in as many days.
Poroshenko is also due to discuss the helicopter incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a teleconference today that should also include German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
Separately, U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron discussed possible new sanctions on Russia.
A White House statement said that Obama and Cameron "agreed that should Russia fail to take these immediate steps to de-escalate the situation in eastern Ukraine, the United States and the European Union would work to implement additional coordinated measures to impose costs on Russia."
the day UKR copter downed near Slavyansk, 1 of Donetsk People's republic top dogs calls ceasefire a bluff https://t.co/aISPnpeOnX
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) June 25, 2014
Ceasefire in Luhansk: business as usual UKR forces get shot at http://t.co/DtiWJyaa9I
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) June 25, 2014
Baby killed with shot from grenade launcher in Luhansk region http://t.co/QcksYHIPn6
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 25, 2014
Obama Said to Ready Sanctions on Russian Industries Over #Ukraine http://t.co/fxb1i5hX58
— Jason Corcoran (@jason_corcoran) June 25, 2014
Moscow revoking 'right' to send army to Ukraine doesn't end conflict. Kiev says pro-Russia militants violated ceasefire 44 times in 3 days.
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) June 25, 2014
Dmitry Tymchuk's military blog: No peace despite declared ceasefire http://t.co/PXMjeecjOl pic.twitter.com/sdxg6MPjnR
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 25, 2014
Shadowy Putin proxy @MedvedchukVV denies he represents separatists in Ukraine talks, despite OSCE claim to contrary https://t.co/huy54I7V5M
— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 24, 2014
@maxseddon @ChristopherJM omg that CHEST HAIR. how had I not seen his facebook page before??
— Laura Mills (@lauraphylmills) June 25, 2014
@ChristopherJM @lauraphylmills that's what gives him away as a fierce Russian bear and not a docile Ukrainian vedmed
— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 25, 2014