Vladimir Medinsky, a Russian presidential aide, said he had called Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and proposed a date and place for a meeting to exchange memoranda on a ‘peaceful settlement’.

"We are ready to start meaningful and substantive discussions on each item of the package agreement on a possible future ceasefire immediately," Medinsky told Russian media.

He added that the Ukrainian side has now started internal discussions on the initiative.

'We are waiting for confirmation as soon as possible and are ready to meet in person to start working on the date we have set in the coming days,' he added.