Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has promised a tough reaction from the authorities if members of illegal armed groups do not accept the conditions of a peace plan put forward by President Petro Poroshenko and do not lay down their arms.

"All those who are proper have got, and will probably get, a few more hours of a chance to accept the terms of the peace plan of the Ukrainian president. Otherwise, we will respond appropriately and toughly," he said on Channel 5 television.

Avakov said that after the announcement of a unilateral cease-fire the militants continued to attack Ukrainian troops.

"As part of the so-called peace process on the part of 'LPR' and 'DPR,' we, unfortunately, have more than 20 dead on our side," he added.