The Ukrainian President has announced that he will propose a cease-fire with separatist rebels in the east of the country later this week - with the aim of ending violence that has plagued the country for months, according to local news reports.

In a statement at the start of a Security Council meeting on Monday, recently elected Poroshenko said he had set government forces the task of regaining full control of Ukraine's border with Russia.

He added that a temporary cease-fire would only be proposed when the border was secure, at which point efforts would be made to agree on a peace plan, according to Interfax news agency. He did not, however, disclose how long the truce he was proposing should last.

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To declare a cease-fire "while the border is open would be irresponsible," added Porshenko, who was sworn in on 7 June.

Poroshenko said he was willing to negotiate with rebels; offer amnesty to fighters who did not have "blood on their hands"; and to protect the use of the Russian language.

He also proposed a jobs program, early parliamentary elections, and constitutional changes to offer the east a degree of decentralised of power.

Shape Created with Sketch. Ukraine crisis aftermath: Slavyansk residents show the scale of damage caused by weeks of unrest Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Ukraine crisis aftermath: Slavyansk residents show the scale of damage caused by weeks of unrest 1/10 Ukraine crisis Yekaterina Len (61) cries outside her ruined house in Slovyansk 2/10 Ukraine crisis Yekaterina Len (61) cries inside her ruined house following a shelling as her grandson stands behind her in Slovyansk 3/10 Ukraine crisis Neighbors of Yekaterina Len react at Len's destroyed house following a shelling as they speak to journalists in Slovyansk 4/10 Ukraine crisis Yekaterina Len (61) and her granddaughter comfort each other at their destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 5/10 Ukraine crisis Neighbors of Yekaterina Len react at Len's destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 6/10 Ukraine crisis Relatives of Yekaterina Len try to clean debris in her destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 7/10 Ukraine crisis Neighbors comfort Yekaterina Len in her destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 8/10 Ukraine crisis Local residents look at flame from a damaged gas pipe after an impact of a mortar bomb, during fighting between Ukrainian government troops against pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk 9/10 Ukraine crisis Local residents talk to each other as they look at flame from a damaged gas pipe after an impact of a mortar bomb in Slovyansk 10/10 Ukraine crisis Lawmakers and officials from eastern Ukraine poured criticism on the fledging central government, accusing it of ignoring legitimate grievances of the regions which have been overrun by pro-Russia militia fighting for independence 1/10 Ukraine crisis Yekaterina Len (61) cries outside her ruined house in Slovyansk 2/10 Ukraine crisis Yekaterina Len (61) cries inside her ruined house following a shelling as her grandson stands behind her in Slovyansk 3/10 Ukraine crisis Neighbors of Yekaterina Len react at Len's destroyed house following a shelling as they speak to journalists in Slovyansk 4/10 Ukraine crisis Yekaterina Len (61) and her granddaughter comfort each other at their destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 5/10 Ukraine crisis Neighbors of Yekaterina Len react at Len's destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 6/10 Ukraine crisis Relatives of Yekaterina Len try to clean debris in her destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 7/10 Ukraine crisis Neighbors comfort Yekaterina Len in her destroyed house following a shelling in Slovyansk 8/10 Ukraine crisis Local residents look at flame from a damaged gas pipe after an impact of a mortar bomb, during fighting between Ukrainian government troops against pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk 9/10 Ukraine crisis Local residents talk to each other as they look at flame from a damaged gas pipe after an impact of a mortar bomb in Slovyansk 10/10 Ukraine crisis Lawmakers and officials from eastern Ukraine poured criticism on the fledging central government, accusing it of ignoring legitimate grievances of the regions which have been overrun by pro-Russia militia fighting for independence

Both Poroshenko and the interim government, who briefly ruled before him, have failed to suppress an insurgency by armed pro-Russian separatists in the east.

In April, the gradual seizure of government buildings by pro-Russian gunmen in the provinces of Donetsk and Slovyansk culminated in two internationally condemned referendums in which citizens voted for independence.

More than 300 government troops, rebels and civilians have been killed in fighting since then.

Peace in the region appeared a distant hope on Saturday, after pro-Russian rebels shot down a Ukrainian military aircraft. All 49 military personnel on-board were killed - making the attack the deadliest incident so far since Ukraine's pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February.

The attack came at a crucial time for the new government in Kiev, as it balanced reports from Nato that Russian tanks had been spotted in Ukrainian territory against the positive re-seizure of the port city of Mariupol on Friday.

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Poroshenko has been trying to win agreement for peace proposals, few details of which have been published. His efforts have included talks with a Russian envoy and a phone call with President Vladimir Putin.

Both Kiev and the West have accused Russia of arming the rebels in east Ukraine - a charge which Moscow denies.

Additional reporting by Reuters