CRI听力:Ukrainian President Makes Surprise Trip to Eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has made a surprise trip to a frontline city in the country's southeast as a ceasefire is generally taking hold.
 
Poroshenko traveled to the strategic port of Mariupol just days after it faced sustained rebel fire.

The Ukrainian President says the country is ready to defend itself but everyone wants peace.

"The question of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of my country is not a matter of negotiation. Point number one. Point number two, we should be responsible and understand that it is impossible just to win the conflict only by military means."

Government troops and rebels have accused each other of sporadic shelling amid the ceasefire.

As part of the peace deal, the rebels have released about 1,200 captives over the past four days.

Meanwhile, the European Union has announced a new package of sanctions on Russia over its alleged role in the Ukraine crisis.

The EU says the time when the sanctions start depends on the situation in Ukraine.

The ceasefire deal has brought forth a glimmer of hope to end the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed about 3,000 lives.