Russia And Ukraine 'Largely Agree' On Crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukraine counterpart Petro Poroshenko largely agree on a way to end the conflict in Ukraine, according to the Interfax news agency.

The heads of state discussed steps required for a ceasefire and their views "overlap to a considerable degree" Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

"The heads of state exchanged opinions about what needs to be done first in order to bring an end to the bloodletting in the southeast of the country as soon as possible," said Mr Peskov.

News (Other OTC: NWSAL - news) of the development comes as Russia announced it was to hold major military exercises in September of the forces responsible for its long-range nuclear capability. The drills will involve more than 4,000 servicemen and 400 technical units.

The development comes as world leaders begin arriving in the UK ahead of a two-day Nato summit in Wales where the Ukraine crisis will be at the top of the agenda.

Speaking at Downing Street ahead of the summit, David Cameron condemned the ongoing violence.

He told an audience of international delegates in London on Tuesday night: "What's happening in the Ukraine right now is disgraceful and completely unacceptable."

Putin and Poroshenko met last week in Minsk but made no progress towards resolving the conflict which has intensified in recent weeks as the West and Kiev accused Russia of deploying troops in Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has warned that Nato must show it still has the political will to fight back in the event of a Russian attack on any member states.

Mr Hammond said: "For Nato to maintain its credibility in the future, we have to demonstrate that we maintain the political will to act to defend ourselves and our interests.

"We have to be clear that we have not lost the appetite to intervene when our interests or our obligations require us to do so.

Despite the claims, Russia has repeatedly denied its soldiers have been sent into Ukraine.