Despite the hopes, some European leaders have voiced skepticismafter all, a previous peace plan agreed to in September disintegrated amid continued fighting.
So now the leaders have struck a new deal in Minsk, Belarus, what happens next?
Run-up to the ceasefire
Between now and Saturday night, we can expect to see continued fighting in eastern Ukraine between the Ukrainian military and separatist forces.
–
Alexey Pushkov, head of the international affairs committee in Russia’s lower house, the State Duma, acknowledged this, tweeting: “Minsk talks have reached their goal. Now it’s all about following the agreement: tensions are very likely. The key is in implementation.’
Implementing a political deal will always be harder on the ground, where emotions run high. Persuading fighters to surrender territory they have lost comrades to gain may not be easy.
CNN’s Nic Robertson reported from Minsk and Laura Smith-Spark reported and wrote from London. CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh in Donetsk contributed to this report.
