Ukraine proposes New Year truce in Donbas

The OSCE and Ukraine are proposing to establish a lasting truce in Donbas until the New Year and Christmas holidays. A possible date for the truce is to be determined on December 27.

Such agreement was reached at a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on Wednesday, First Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook.

"The OSCE and Ukraine have proposed that after the end of martial law, in the absence of provocations on the part of the Russian Federation and the cessation of acts of aggression by Russia, a lasting truce be established in Donbas until the New Year and Christmas holidays. A Skype conference of the subgroup on security will take place on December 27 to discuss the security situation and a final possible date for the truce," Gerashchenko said.

At the same time, she noted that the ceasefire regime could be declared only if there are no provocations and open aggression from Russia.

"If we manage to declare de-escalation and agree on the date for the truce during a Skype conference on December 27, this will be the 18th attempt of the ceasefire," Gerashchenko said.