Russia said that its month-old invasion of Ukraine which led to the biggest European conflict since World War Two has been halted "in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal of agreeing and signing (an) agreement". Moscow said after face-to-face peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey that it had made the decision to radically reduce military activity in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions.
Ukraine reacted with skepticism to Russia's promise in negotiations to scale down military operations while some Western countries expected Moscow to intensify its offensive in other parts of the country.
Russia's onslaught has been met by stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces who have recaptured besieged cities.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has seen nearly 4 million Ukrainians flee abroad and has left thousands dead or injured.
