Russian former leader of Ukraine rebels warns of "big war"

Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Alexander Borodai (standing) speaks as he takes part in talks between representatives of OSCE, Ukraine, Russia and self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in Donetsk June 27, 2014. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A ceasefire is likely to collapse in east Ukraine and Russia could be drawn into a "big war" to cleanse the "sore on its borders", the former leader of the region's pro-Russian separatists said.

Violence has eased but not halted in east Ukraine under what are known as the Minsk 2 agreements, reached in the Belarussian capital on Feb. 12 after an earlier ceasefire collapsed.