(VOVworld) - Parties involved in a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine signed a cease-fire protocol in Minsk on Friday, bringing forth a glimmer of hope to end the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine.

From left to right:- Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, representative of self proclaimed 'People Republic of Donetsk', PM Alexander Zakharchenko, OSCE envoy Heidi Tagliavini, Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov make an official statement on the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Minsk, on September 5, 2014 (Photo: voiceofrussia.com)

Under the agreement, both warring sides in Ukraine will cease fire from 15.00 GMT Friday. Alexander Zakharchenko, leader the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk People's Republic’, said the truce deal will save many human lives. Meanwhile rebel leader of ‘People’s Republic of Lugansk, Igor Plotniskyi said most of the articles in the 12-point protocol have met Lugansk’s requirements adding that the deal will not change the state’s policy of advocating splitting from Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he had ordered the army to cease fire from 18.00 local time and asked Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the OSCE to ensure international control over the compliance of the truce. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed his hope that the deal "could be the start of a constructive political process."

The contact group on Ukraine includes envoys from the two warring sides in southeastern Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.