Ceasefire offers opportunity for eastern Ukraine peace push, says president

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during an interview with Reuters in the village of Taramchuk in Donetsk Region, Ukraine August 7, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

TARAMCHUK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine wants to build on a lull in fighting in the eastern Donbass region to push for a lasting peace settlement at a new round of four-way talks with Russia, France and Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters.

Dressed in a T-shirt and khaki trousers, Zelenskiy was speaking on a visit to the area on the 12th day of what Kyiv hopes will be a permanent ceasefire agreed with Russian-backed forces on July 27.