CRI听力:Rebels Reject Ceasefire Efforts: Poroshenko

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says the rebels in the country's eastern region have rejected his ceasefire efforts.

Poroshenko says he has suggested a number of venues for negotiating a ceasefire, but all the offers were refused either by the rebels or Russia.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich contends the fighting in eastern Ukraine has been escalating.

"We see for ourselves that the ceasefire hasn't happened. But rather, there has been a toughening of the situation, a toughening and an expansion of the punitive operation of the Ukrainian forces. This gives a rise to regrets."

Ukrainian authorities say 23 of the 36 districts seized by militants in the eastern regions have been taken back by the Ukrainian army.

Armed rebels continue to strengthen their positions in and around Donetsk as government troops encircle the city.

Poroshenko has already ruled out using air strikes and artillery.