Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels on Friday reached an agreement to end the fighting, which has also caused a rift between Russia and the West.

The ceasefire agreement to end the five-month long conflict, which has taken the lives of more than 2,600 people, was made in Belarussian capital Minsk.

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Based on a statement released by a diplomat from the European Union (EU), the ceasefire is expected to be implemented on Monday. The deal included the exchange of detainees as well as humanitarian aid deliveries and pulling out of troops and heavy artillery from the region.

The ceasefire talks reportedly began at 6 p.m., and despite several separatist air attacks in Donetsk, the truce was said to be holding.

The truce was made between Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, along with Russian representatives and a watchdog for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

According to the Ukrainian president, they give utmost importance to human life, and any means necessary to prevent suffering and bloodshed must be taken.

However, Ukrainian residents and military officials are still skeptical whether the ceasefire deal would hold, because of the lack of a long-term plan for a peace-settlement.

Even with the announcement of the agreement, Western countries and the EU still continued to increase the economic sanctions in Russia for its role in stoking the fire in the conflict.

According to the EU, the Russian sanctions will be withdrawn if Kremlin will pull out its troops from Ukraine support the truce agreement.

The Russians accepted the agreement, which was largely based on the peace plan proposed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

However, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, said Ukraine and the separatists need to reach a long-term peace-settlement plant to avoid a repeat of the June ceasefire which only lasted for 10 days.

TagsUkraine, Russia, ceasefire agreement, pro-Russian separatists, rebel group