It has to be said that not all Ukrainian reaction has been as sympathetic (at least on social media):
As you can see from this map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone provided by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the cease-fire in the east seems to be pretty shaky (to say the least):
Not surprisingly, Pope Francis mentioned Ukraine today in his traditional Christmas message of peace. Here is RFE/RL report on his annual speech (Ukraine related text italicized and marked in bold):
Pope's Christmas Message Urges Peace, Comforts Victims Of Terrorism
Pope Francis has urged peace in the Middle East and offered comfort to those who lost loved ones to terrorism.
Delivering his traditional Christmas address on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on December 25, the pope called for guns to fall silent in Syria, saying "far too much blood has been spilled" in the nearly six-year conflict.
Citing those suffering in the Syrian war -- especially during the "most awful battles" in Aleppo -- he pressed the international community for a peaceful solution.
Pope Francis also urged Israelis and Palestinians to abandon hate and revenge.
In the speech that comes less than a week after a deadly terrorist attack in Berlin, the pope said he hoped for "peace to those who have lost a person dear to them as a result of brutal acts of terrorism." The December 19 truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market left twelve people dead and injured dozens of others.
The pontiff also made reference to those who "continue to suffer from the consequences of the conflict in eastern Ukraine," where a cease-fire has been officially in place since December 24 although both sides have accused each other of violations. Francis said that "a common resolve is urgently needed to bring relief to the population and to implement the commitments that have been made."
The pope also called for an end to "fundamentalist terrorism" in Nigeria that he said "exploits even children," a reference to child suicide-bombers.
Speaking in more general terms, Francis urged everyone to help the less fortunate, including migrants, refugees, and those swept up by social and economic upheavals.
There was a heavy police presence around St. Peter's Square, where some 40,000 gathered for the pope's annual message.
The entrance to the square has been protected by concrete barriers since the Berlin attack.
With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Tweeted by Ukraine's ambassador to Finland:
Another tweet from the U.K. ambassador to Kyiv: