Planned peace talks between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels have been postponed but a ceasefire appears to be holding in the ex-Soviet country's east.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry said talks with the insurgents involving Russian and European envoys in the Belarussian capital Minsk planned for Tuesday had been delayed and would probably not be held until Friday.
"Today, nothing will happen. Consultations are continuing," a spokesman said.
But a ceasefire along the bloodied frontline in eastern Ukraine was apparently being respected early on Tuesday on what the government has dubbed "a day of silence".
Fighting in the main rebel-held city of Donetsk had stopped abruptly at dawn after a night of artillery exchanges, with only a single shell heard since then.
"On the initiative of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, a ceasefire regime has been implemented on all positions of (government) forces," said a statement on the Ukrainian military's Facebook account on Tuesday.
One rebel fighter stationed near the contested airport in Donetsk said the situation was "calm for the moment".
But his colleagues remained sceptical about the long-term prospects.
"I don't believe in the ceasefire," one said. "Up to now, ceasefires have only meant a pause before even fiercer fighting resumes."
Rebel commanders had earlier said they would not be ready to hold peace talks until later in the week.
The pro-Western Ukrainian leadership needs calm in the east so it can focus on long-delayed economic reforms to dig the country out of effective bankruptcy and open the way for more global aid.
A team from the International Monetary Fund arrives in Kiev on Tuesday to assess Ukraine's implementation of deeply unpopular austerity measures it has demanded in return for aid.
Tuesday's "day of silence" across the war zone is due to be followed by a withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line.
