Donetsk, Dec 19 – DAN. Kiev has derailed the decision to announce ceasefire in Donbass on the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays, said DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova.

"During today's meeting of the Contact Group the representatives of the Republics have agreed with the proposition to introduce Christmas ceasefire and suggested the date of December 22. Unfortunately, Kiev representatives have assumed an extremely destructive position concerning the ceasefire; in fact they have hampered the key issue for today without any decent reason – coordination of the ceasefire."

According to Nikonorova, Kiev is preparing for active military action in Donbass, possibly, to extend the martial law, and it is proved by its unwillingness to introduce ceasefire.

"We are very concerned with the situation and urge the OSCE leadership and guarantor-countries and the international community to pressure Ukrainian authorities with the purpose of recommitting to the ceasefire."

Special representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office to the Contact Group Martin Sajdik has suggested an alternative: to hold a video conference of the security group on December 27 to coordinate the ceasefire.

"We hope that this OSCE initiative will have a positive effect and Donbass people will have a peaceful celebration of the New Year and Christmas, and that it will be a guarantee containing Ukrainian aggression." *ot