Putin supports ceasefire in Ukraine, calling for peace talks

MOSCOW (Xinhua) - Russian President Vladimir Putin supported Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's order to cease fire in the southeastern country and his intention to seek a peaceful settlement of the crisis, the Kremlin press service said Saturday.

Putin urged all parties to stop all hostile actions and start talks, stressing that the peace plan "will not be viable and realistic without practical steps towards negotiations."

The opportunity created by the ceasefire must be used for constructive negotiations and political compromises of all parties in the eastern Ukraine, the press service quoted Putin as saying.

Ukrainian President on Friday unveiled a plan aiming at peacefully resolving the conflict in eastern regions, offering unilateral ceasefire and calling on the rebels to lay down weapons and start peace talks with the government in Kiev.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the peace plan later Friday.