Kiev, Separatists to Extend Ceasefire as `Day of Silence` Mostly Observed

The Ukrainian army is planning on extending the ceasefire with the pro-Russian separatists, following a one-day truce on Tuesday during which the warring sides largely abstained from attacking each other.

The military spokesman Andriy Lysenko announced that although government positions have been attacked, there was a serious decrease in the number of raids and no casualties were suffered.

The separatists accused the government of several violations of the "Day of Silence", which took place on December 9, following its announcement by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko last week.

There has been an effort on both sides to return to the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk agreement that stipulates the establishment of ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.

A new round of negotiations is expected this week, but a concrete date has not been confirmed.

Representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin said that the videoconference of the trilateral contact group on Ukraine, that had initially been scheduled for Wednesday, did not take place and has been postponed for an indefinite time.