Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested face-to-face talks in the Vatican with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on ending seven years of conflict in the east of his country, but Russia heaped new scorn on his dogged bid for a meeting and dismissed Ukrainian calls for a new approach to securing peace.

The company’s management said the move underscored contempt for recognised principles of corporate management and one member of parliament said it could jeopardise Ukraine’s programme of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) credits – already suspended and subject to a review of a wide range of government policies.

The snub was an eye-popping dismissal of hopeful talk by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.