As Ukrainian forces tightened their perimeter around rebel-held Donetsk, the notion of a ceasefire, first brought up by a separatist leader on Saturday, evaporated amid a relentless offensive by government troops. Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that if rebels want a ceasefire, it would mean “raising white flags and putting down their guns.” In response, rebels changed their stance and said there would be no truce while the Ukrainian army continued “punitive” military action.
