President Poroshenko calls east Ukraine truce 'real'

The new ceasefire has actually been observed in southeastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"I have good news. It is the first time in the past seven months that the ceasefire has actually been observed over the past 24 hours," Poroshenko, who is currently on a state visit to Australia, told reporters.

"You cannot even imagine how it is important for us. It was the first night when not a single one of my soldiers was killed or injured," the Ukrainian leader said.

If the truce continues to hold, "it will become a major step towards peace and stability in Ukraine," he added.

However, "the situation is still very fragile," Poroshenko said, promising to "pray for this process to continue."

The president reiterated his opinion expressed on Thursday that the Ukrainian conflict is not only about the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"It is a war for freedom, global freedom. It is a war for democracy, global democracy. It is a war for security, global security," Poroshenko said.

A new ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and militants in southeastern Ukraine was declared on December 9.