Insurgents in eastern Ukraine have promised to honor a cease-fire declared by the Ukrainian president and engage in more talks to help resolve the conflict in the country's east.

The announcement came on the first day of talks between a former Ukrainian president, the Russian ambassador, European officials and rebel leaders from the east who have declared independence. The negotiations were launched in line with President Petro Poroshenko’s peace plan, which started with a week long unilateral cease-fire Friday to uproot the mutiny that has engulfed the nation’s industrial east.

Alexander Borodai, one of the rebel leaders who took part in Monday’s talks in Donetsk, said they would respect the cease-fire declared by President Poroshenko.