Independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday expressed resolute opposition to the government's plan to repeal the law that grants "special status" to Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

After Kiev's unilateral decision to abolish the law, Minsk peace protocol signed on Sept. 5 was actually canceled, the insurgent leadership said in a statement.

In the statement, they expressed readiness to hold new peace talks with the Ukrainian government in Minsk and work on a new version of the truce agreement.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked security chiefs and the parliament to scrap a law on "special status" of the eastern regions, claiming that the rebels have violated the peace agreement signed in Minsk by carrying out local elections.

Poroshenko proposed creating a free economic zone in Lugansk and Donetsk regions that will have special trade relations with Russia and the European Union.

The law on "special status" which increases autonomy of the eastern regions was approved by the Ukrainian parliament on Sept. 16 as a concession to insurgents listed in the ceasefire deal. Endi

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