Ukrainian authorities and separatists agree to ceasefire on December 9

On December 4, the Ukrainian government and separatists announced that they had agreed to a ceasefire along the eastern war zone on December 9 under the terms of a Russian-brokered ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Kiev had prepared "measures to ensure the implementation of the Minsk Agreements regarding the 'Day of Calm', which is scheduled to begin on December 9."

(Source: Reuters)

According to a source in the Ukrainian president's office, Mr Poroshenko's statement means Ukraine will begin withdrawing heavy weapons from the eastern frontline on December 10 - provided the separatists also adhere to the ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Legislature of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Andrei Purgin confirmed that the ceasefire agreement is part of the Minsk agreements.

"The Minsk Group, which includes our and Ukrainian military officials, as well as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Russian negotiators, agreed to a ceasefire on December 9," Purgin told Russia's RIA news agency./.

According to VNA