Peace initiatives between Kiev and rebels in the east of the country resumed Wednesday, as Ukraine made further payments for its arrears on gas from Russia, dpa reported. The Ukraine Contact Group met in Belarus with representatives to restart peace talks between Kiev and pro-Russian rebels three months after they agreed to a ceasefire. The trilateral Contact Group consists of Russia, Ukraine and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). They are set to meet again on Friday in the Belarusian capital Minsk. The OSCE said the parties will discuss the withdrawal of heavy military equipment from eastern Ukraine and the exchange of prisoners. It hopes progress on those fronts will help solidify the fragile truce struck in September. Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini of the OSCE speaking prior to the meeting said the question of supplying humanitarian goods to the war stricken areas is also to be clarified. Russia's Tass news agency reported that the separatists will demand that Kiev end its economic blockade of the rebel-held regions.
