Putin unveils Ukraine ceasefire plan

Residents in this area of Donetsk, in eastern Ukrainian, flee into their basements, to escape the artillery shelling above.

Donetsk is a stronghold of pro-Russian separatists and their battles with nearby government forces are said to be raging.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a seven-step roadmap for ending the violence.

Among other things, it calls for rebels to halt their operations, Ukrainian forces to pull back from their positions and an end to government airstrikes.

Putin outlined the plan while visiting Mongolia.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"I very much count on Ukrainian leadership supporting this emergent progress in bilateral relations and using the positive work of the contact group to achieve a final and comprehensive resolution of the situation in southeastern Ukraine."

Peace talks in Minsk are scheduled for Friday,

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he's hopeful the