Russia and Ukraine have agreed to restore a 2020 ceasefire deal in eastern Ukraine, prompting a top official in Kyiv to say that the coming holidays "should be peaceful".
Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak hailed the deal brokered by Europe's OSCE security organisation as a step towards de-escalation.
The agreement coincides with heightened tensions in the region.
Ukraine and the West say Russia has sent 100,000 troops near the border.
Only this week Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened "adequate military-technical response measures" if what he called the West's aggressive line continued. The issue was expected to come up on Thursday during his lengthy annual press conference.
Russian officials deny any plans for an invasion, however the defence ministry in Moscow said it was carrying out military exercises in the area on Thursday and Friday. Germany has expressed alarm at Russia's troop movements and said dialogue was "now essential to try to defuse a major crisis".
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