Ceasefire Agreement Reached at Trilateral Contact Group Meeting

At the last meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) this year, the parties agreed to resume the ceasefire.

“For the first time in a long period, there is a real opportunity to ensure ceasefire on the contact line in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Ukrainian side is completely ready for this. It is important that we see the readiness of the other side to take this step,” said Andriy Kostin, Acting First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG.

This result is especially important in view of the upcoming winter holidays. It is long established that our citizens celebrate Christmas and New Year holidays in peace and with the closest people.

The TCG believes that such steps allow for restrained optimism about the possible de-escalation of the situation in Donbas and unlocking the peace process.

The Ukrainian side also continues to work in all available formats to release detainees, open entry-exit checkpoints, and ensure the implementation of other agreements in the interests of all Ukrainians on both sides of the contact line.

As a reminder, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine declared that our country and partners observe a systemic aggravation of the security situation by Russia in the Donetsk, Luhansk regions, and in Crimea, namely against the background of the reluctance of the Russian Federation to confirm its commitment to the ceasefire.

Natalia Tolub