London, Dec 9 (IANS): A day of silence called by President Petro Poroshenko is being observed in eastern Ukraine Tuesday in an attempt to kick-start a ceasefire deal.

However, new talks between pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian government appear to be uncertain, BBC reported.

The talks had been due to take place in Minsk, Belarus, Tuesday.

Authorities in Minsk said that they had not received any confirmation from either the Ukrainian government or the rebel representatives with regard to the new peace talks.

Both sides signed a truce in Minsk in September, but almost 1,000 people have been killed in fighting since then, the UN said.

Poroshenko last week said that troops would observe the Day of Silence to try to boost the peace deal.

The Ukrainian army would stop shelling and would possibly withdraw heavy weapons if it was clear that militants did the same, Poroshenko said.

Some pro-Russian rebels reportedly welcomed the pledge, but it is not known if all groups had agreed to the proposal.

The previous Minsk agreement projected a 30 km military buffer zone in the east.

The Ukraine crisis began a year ago, when former President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an agreement on closer trade ties with the European Union (EU) in favour of closer co-operation with Russia.

This decision sparked pro-EU protests in the capital Kiev, eventually toppling Yanukovych in February.

The conflict has killed more than 4000 people and has displaced over a million.