Ukraine’s president has pushed for a quick ceasefire in his country’s troubled east, insisting that the conflict must be resolved and not “frozen,” and pressed Kiev’s case to be supplied with defensive weapons.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says it is uncertain whether a flurry of diplomacy aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine will succeed, and warned that there are no guarantees that any deal would stick.

Talks on a Ukraine peace initiative will continue with a telephone call tomorrow between Russian president Vladimir Putin and his counterpart in Kiev to discuss a proposal to end the fighting.

Shelling resounded on the outskirts of a key Ukrainian port as Russian-backed rebels pressed their south-east offensive, just hours ahead of talks that are widely hoped to bring a ceasefire.

Ukraine and the pro-Russian separatists appear increasingly close to signing a deal to end four months of fighting.

Russia’s foreign minister has warned that Ukraine’s Nato ambitions are threatening to derail peace talks in eastern Ukraine.

A town in east Ukraine has come under shellfire by pro-Russian rebels amid fears they are launching a counter-offensive on government-held parts of the region.

Ireland’s Elite boxers, for the third time in the last three years, finished in second spot in rankings table behind powerhouses Russia at the European Championships.

The Irish Elite team got their heads together following a backs-to-the-wall team talk at the European Championships in Minsk, Belarus, according to head coach Billy Walsh.

London 2012 silver and bronze medallists, John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan, together with Jason Quigley, are guaranteed at least bronze medals at the European Elite Championships in Minsk, Belarus.

Joe Ward hobbled out of the European Championships following a freak injury against Polish light heavyweight Matrusz Tryc in Minsk, Belarus yesterday.

London 2012 Olympian Adam Nolan cruised into the last 16 of the European Championships with a unanimous decision (30-27,29-28,29-28) over Polish welter Tomasz Kot in Minsk, Belarus yesterday.

Investigators were today searching for flight recorders in the shattered remains of an airliner that crashed on the banks of the Volga River, killing 43 people including most of one of Russia's premier hockey teams.