Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has declared an end to the three-day extension of the weeklong unilateral ceasefire with pro-Russian separatists. CCTV’s Stephanie Freid reports from Kiev.

As the ceasefire declared by Poroshenko in Eastern Ukraine expired at 10 P.M. Monday night, fighting has continued throughout the region despite the European Union’s pressure on the Ukrainian president to continue peace efforts. A statement released on Poroshenko’s website early Tuesday said that the ceasefire would end and that “we will attack and we will free our country.”

The ceasefire was implemented in an effort to give the rebels an opportunity to start a peace process, which would include amnesty and new regional elections. However, the ceasefire was continually violated, and Poroshenko has decided to continue the fight.

As far as many pro-Ukrainian fighters are concerned, the ceasefire mostly gave the rebels time to rearm. Poroshenko made a speech regarding the issue:

“Ending the ceasefire is our answer to terrorists, armed insurgents and looters, to all who mock the peaceful population, who are paralyzing the economy of the region and who are depriving people of a normal, peaceful life.”

End of ceasefire in Ukraine marks continued fighting

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has declared an end to the three-day extension of the weeklong unilateral ceasefire with pro-Russian separatists. CCTV's Stephanie Freid reports from Kiev.