Kiev, Donbass Republics Confirm Ceasefire Being Observed

Both sides of the conflict in eastern Ukraine have confirmed that the ceasefire regime is being strictly followed, a spokeswoman for Kiev negotiator and former President Leonid Kuchma said Tuesday following a phone conference of the Trilateral Contact Group.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics took part in the conference.

"All participants of the online meeting confirmed that both sides are fully adhering to the ceasefire regime. In particular, this fact was stated by Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Alexander Hug, as well as officers from the joint center for control and coordination," Darya Olifer wrote on Facebook.

Kiev authorities and self-proclaimed Donbass republics agreed to a ceasefire under the Minsk deal reached in February. However, both sides have since accused each other of violating the truce.

An agreement on the withdrawal of weapons under 100mm caliber is expected to be signed at a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on September 8, Olifer said.

"In order to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire, and ahead of a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on September 8, where a deal on the withdrawal of weapons under 100mm caliber is expected to be signed, another phone conference of the Trilateral Contact Group will be held on Friday, September 4," Darya Olifer said.