Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on Russia to ensure the observance of a cease-fire in Donbas during the New Year and Christmas holidays, and other Minsk agreements.
"I'm calling on Russia to ensure the strict observance of a cease-fire and the implementation of other agreements, including on an immediate release of hostages and illegally detained people, including on the Russian territory," he said on Facebook.
He welcomed the decision of the trilateral contact group to introduce a cease-fire in the antiterrorist operation area as of 24 December.
"I expect these measures, which will be implemented on the eve of the New Year and Christmas festivities, to make a cease-fire permanent," he said.
On 21 December, the trilateral contact group on a Donbas settlement agreed on a cease-fire for the New Year holidays as of the midnight of 24 December. They started discussing four new areas for disengagement of troops.