There remains a “very big gap” between Ukraine and Russia in peace talks between the two nations, western officials have said.

Reuters quotes an unnamed official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, as saying that both sides are taking peace talks seriously but that there was little sign of an imminent breakthrough:

Both sides are taking them seriously but there is a very, very big gap between the positions in question.

\

Another official said: “Those ... who saw [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin addressing the nation yesterday would be forgiven for thinking that Russia was not in compromising mood.”