The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) has stressed the need to ensure peace and calm due to the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays and confirmed the commitment of the parties to observe a comprehensive, permanent and indefinite ceasefire from 00.00 Kyiv time on December 23, 2017.

According to Darka Olifer, the press secretary of Ukraine's representative in the TCG, second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, following a meeting of the group involving representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Wednesday, December 20, such a decision was made on the basis of the previously reached agreements and obligations of the parties.

She also said that the meeting participants had confirmed the desire to fulfill their commitments to release the detained persons before the Christmas and New Year holidays, in accordance with previously reached agreements.

"In addition, the sides expressed a common commitment to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements," Olifer added.