Separatists, Ukraine Agree on Immediate Ceasefire

Representatives of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), and Ukraine have signed a ceasefire protocol, the DPR said on its official Twitter account. 

The ceasefire, which has been agreed during talks in Minks, is due to come into effect at 6 pm (15:00 GMT).

The decision comes after NATO and Western countries put pressure on Russia to facilitate a deescalation. But the ceasefire might not automatically imply better relations between the West and Russia.

‘Responding to reports that ceasefire talks would take place between Russia and Ukraine later today, (Foreign Secretary) Philip Hammond said that the West would not be deterred from pursuing further sanctions against Russia,’ reads a note released by the UK Government earlier on Friday.

 According to Hammond, there is widespread skepticism around the ceasefire.

On Thursday, the Netherlands and Poland presented their plan to support Ukraine’s armed forces.

‘The Netherlands and Poland will be the lead nations for a trust fund to help strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces. Mr Rutte announced that the Netherlands is making €400,000 available for the fund,’ the Dutch government wrote on Thursday after the first day of the NATO summit.