(VOVworld) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU leaders failed to convince Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine which expired on Monday.

Ukraine's army has been ordered to resume military operations in eastern Ukraine.

At a meeting with Russian ambassadors in Moscow, Putin said all Ukrainian armed forces in eastern Ukraine have been ordered to resume military operations.
Putin said current developments prove the West has a long-term plan to hold back Russia, which didn’t end when the Cold War was over. Putin urged the West to establish relations with Russia based on equality and mutual respect, despite many differences over the crisis in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU is preparing new sanctions against Russia.