By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has told Sky News the conflict in his country cannot be solved by military means alone.
Speaking in the southern city of Mariupol, close to the frontline between his forces and pro-Russian rebels, he said foreign troops must be withdrawn for peace to be achieved.
"We should understand that it is impossible to win the conflict only by military means," he said.
"The more we increase the pressure, the more Russian troops come into our territory.
"If you ask me the quickest way to make stability and peace here it's very simple: withdraw foreign troops and close the border."
Mr Poroshenko speaks in the port city of Mariupol The president met activists and civil defence volunteers during a surprise visit to Mariupol, leading workers at the city's vast metal factory in a rendition of the national anthem.
"This city was, is, and will be Ukrainian," Mr Poroshenko told the crowd, from a stage decorated with the blue and yellow colours of his country's flag.
"Mariupol proved that we won't let anybody burn our city to the ground. This workers' Mariupol protected peace and calm in the city."
He called Mariupol a "hero city", evoking the title given to Soviet cities such as Leningrad and Stalingrad after the Second World War.
A ceasefire which came into force on Friday appeared to be largely holding, despite shelling on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol overnight on both Saturday and Sunday.
A Ukrainian serviceman rides on an armoured vehicle in Kramatorsk Mr Poroshenko denied that the ceasefire deal meant effectively ceding control of large areas in the east of his country.
"In all the documents we signed, it was especially mentioned that the question of territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of my country is not a matter of negotiation," he said.
Colonel Andriy Lysenko, Ukraine's National Security Council spokesman, said rebel forces had stopped using heavy artillery and were only using mortar and rifle fire.
He said no servicemen had been killed in the past 24 hours.
"That's a big achievement," he said.
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that 15 Ukrainian soldiers had been released by rebel forces, as part of a prisoner exchange.
Mr Lysenko said the exchange of prisoners was "task number one" for the government during the ceasefire.
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