The self-proclaimed leader of a separatist-held area of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, has announced a unilateral ceasefire in the region, beginning on Wednesday at midnight.<br /><br /> An earlier truce agreed between the government and rebel factions began at the start of the school year, on September 1. Reports suggest this was largely respected until Monday (September 12). <br /><br /> Leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko said he expected the Ukrainian Army to observe the ceasefire.<br /><br /> “We can announce the ceasefire will begin at midnight between September 14 and 15 – stop fire and any military action,” the rebel leader said on Russian television. <br /><br /> “I call on the Ukrainian side to take it seriously and show that they are ready to do it in practice and not just make declarations.”<br /><br /> It is the first time the separatists have put forward the idea of a ceasefire.<br /><br /> Kyiv has not yet responded to the announcement, but did say three soldiers had been killed in combat against Russia-backed separatist fighters between Monday and Tuesday (September 12 and 13).<br /><br /> Military spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said:<br />“The main event of the past 24 hours was a firefight between the anti-terrorist operation forces and the occupants in the direction of Luhansk. I would like to mention that military action takes place there very seldom. An enemy sabotage-and-reconnaissance group crossed the river and attacked our servicemen.”<br /><br /> Around 15 Ukrainian Army soldiers were injured in the recent upsurge in fighting, officials say.<br /><br /> The German and French Foreign Ministers will be in Kyiv on Wednesday to hold talks with President Petro Poroshenko.<br /><br /> Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the press both Berlin and Paris have made proposals for a lasting peace in eastern Ukraine.<br /><br /> Poroshenko announced on Tuesday (September 13) that he expected the Ukrainian parliament to vote soon on proposed constitutional reforms that could grant autonomy to the crisis-torn east of the country.<br /><br /> Raging since April 2014, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 9,500 people.<br />
