The conflict in the Donbass. Ukraine seeks a cease-fire

The office of the Ukrainian president wrote in a statement that Wednesday’s meeting of the Tripartite Contact Group provides an opportunity to de-escalate the situation in Donbass and unleash the peace process. During the meeting, it was agreed to restore the ceasefire within the framework set in the summer of 2020.

– For the first time in a long time, there is a real possibility of ensuring silence on the demarcation line in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Ukrainian side is fully prepared for this. It is important that we also saw the willingness of the other side to take this step – Andrij Kostin from the Ukrainian delegation confirmed this form of talks.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrei Yermak, noted that all parties expressed their intention to adhere to the provisions for an enhanced ceasefire. He saw this as a step towards appeasement. “Christmas and New Years should be peaceful,” he wrote on Facebook. “Let there be silence in Donbass at last.”

In Donbass, a “complete and comprehensive ceasefire” agreement has been in force since July 2020 between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists, which was reached by negotiators of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe under the so-called Contact Group. However, the truce was broken.