Boris Johnson welcomes introduction of cease-fire in Donbas

The U.K. foreign secretary calls on all parties to implement the agreed cease-fire as a basis for lasting peace in 2017.

Censor.NET reports citing UK government.

"I welcome the announcement of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, which follows particularly high levels of violence over recent days. This conflict continues to have a devastating effect on millions of people living on both sides of the line of contact. I urge all parties to observe this cease-fire, and to use it as a basis to make progress in building a lasting peace in eastern Ukraine in 2017," Johnson said.

Read more: Poroshenko welcomes arrangement to cease fire in Donbas from Dec. 24 reached in Minsk

Earlier today, Ukrainian representatives of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) confirmed the introduction of a comprehensive, sustainable, and 'indefinite' cease-fire in the Donbas effective midnight on Dec. 24, 2016.

Moreover, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said they welcomed what Steinmeier called a "unanimous recommitment" to peace ahead of the holidays.