Strong explosions near key Ukraine port city of Mariupol

Mariupol (Ukraine) (AFP) - Strong explosions rocked the outskirts of the key Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Thursday as Kiev's forces battled pro-Moscow rebels, AFP correspondents said.

The fighting was reported just as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that a ceasefire plan aimed at bringing a halt to nearly five months of conflict would be signed in Minsk on Friday.