According to the Interfax news agency, Russia's military has increased inspections of its units in the rebel-held parts of Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.

Earlier in the session, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that they will continue the dialogue with the west and added that a result was achievable.

Market reaction

The market mood remains upbeat following these headlines. As of writing, Germany's DAX 30 Index was rising 1.4% on a daily basis, US stock futures were up between 1% and 1.9%.