Ukrainian president may extend cease-fire for restive east

KIEV, Ukraine, June 27 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he will decide later Friday, after his return to Kiev from Brussels, whether to extend the cease-fire in the restive eastern region.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, where he earlier signed an historic Association Agreement with the European Union, Poroshenko said his decision regarding the cease-fire would be imminent:

"I will take this decision after returning to Ukraine, after holding the necessary consultations with the defense minister, the commander of the National Guard, the interior minister, the chief of the General Staff and other members of the National Security and Defense Council. But definitely this decision will be made today."

Poroshenko declared a temporary, week-long unilateral cease-fire on June 20 to give pro-Russian armed separatists in the east the opportunity to lay down their weapons and for Russian mercenaries to depart Ukraine.