Valeriy Geletey

President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday dismissed Ukraine's third defence minister this year, citing security failures that have seen government forces suffer daily losses to pro-Russian insurgents in the separatist east.

Ukraine's defence minister warned on Monday that a "great war" had broken out with Russia over his country's future that could claim tens of thousands of lives.

Ukraine on Tuesday brushed off strong European pressure and rejected talks with pro-Russian rebels about a truce halting a bloody insurgency convulsing the ex-Soviet nation until they laid down their arms.

President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday dismissed Ukraine's third defence minister this year, citing security failures that have seen government forces suffer daily losses to pro-Russian insurgents in the separatist east.

Ukraine's defence minister warned on Monday that a "great war" had broken out with Russia over his country's future that could claim tens of thousands of lives.

Ukraine on Tuesday brushed off strong European pressure and rejected talks with pro-Russian rebels about a truce halting a bloody insurgency convulsing the ex-Soviet nation until they laid down their arms.