Soldiers of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), fighting near Debaltseve, Donetsk region, February 10, 2015. [Photo: TASS/Imagine China]

Members of the Contact Group on Ukraine have agreed to attempt a new ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, starting from today.

This comes as a previous ceasefire agreement, reached last year in Minsk, failed to be implemented.

OSCE Ambassador to the contact group Martin Sajdik confirmed this as the group met again in Minsk on Wednesday.

"Before the holidays here in Minsk we have agreed on state of full ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. I am very disappointed that on this issue my holiday wishes did not come true."

The OSCE ambassador notes that parties to the conflict also agreed to release more than 50 prisoners of war.

The prisoner swap is a key part of the Minsk ceasefire agreement, which is aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine that erupted in 2014, with more than 9,000 people killed so far.

The group will meet again in a week to assess the renewed ceasefire.