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Ukrainian president orders to implement ceasefire starting from April 1

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry earlier expressed readiness to fulfill the decision of the Contact Group on settling the situation in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko

© Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

KIEV, March 30. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has ordered the country’s General Staff and the Defense Ministry to take measures necessary for implementing the ceasefire starting from April 1, Poroshenko’s spokesman Svyatoslav Tsegolko said on Thursday.

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Contact Group agrees on statement calling for ceasefire in Donbass

"The president has handed instructions to the General Staff and the defense minister concerning the implementation of the ceasefire starting from April 1," he said.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry earlier expressed readiness to fulfill the decision of the Contact Group on settling the situation in eastern Ukraine and hold their fire. However, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak elaborated that despite the readiness to abide by the ceasefire, the Ukrainian military "will not keep silent" in case a threat emerged.

On Wednesday, members of the Contact Group adopted a statement introducing a complete ceasefire in Donbass starting from April 1.

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