MH17 plane crash tragedy has not slowed Ukraine war
It is rumoured that President Petro Poroshenko has ordered Ukraine forces to end the conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the country's east by August 24 in time for Ukrainian Independence Day, The Telegraph reported.
The government offensive against the rebels has made significant progress since rebels unexpectedly fled a string of key towns earlier this month.
Government forces say they are now closing in on the major cities of Lugansk and Donetsk, where the bulk of the insurgent fighters have dug in and pledged to fight to the death.
But any hopes that the tragedy of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane that was shot down last week in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board, might give a renewed impetus to bringing about an end to the war are fading fast, said Telegraph correspondent Roland Oliphant.