"Representatives of Ukraine and Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic signed a ceasefire protocol from 6pm on Friday," the Twitter account of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic said, without providing further details.
Officials on the ground in the Belarussian capital Minsk were not immediately available to confirm the statement.
Russia denies being actively involved in the war, but Ukraine and the Western NATO alliance say that regular Russian troops and tanks are fighting on the rebels' side.
The negotiations follow talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Minsk last week.
Combat continued on the outskirts of the strategic Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, threatening to undermine the Minsk talks.
Meanwhile, EU Ambassadors in Brussels are finalising a new raft of sanctions on Russia, with the US likely to follow suit....................http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0905/641560-ukraine/
5/9/14
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Related:
Ex-Ukrainian President Kuchma on Minsk Talks: No Obstacles From Kiev to Sign Ceasefire
Ukraine and pro-Russia rebels 'sign ceasefire deal'...
Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov says documents will be signed after Contact Group meeting in Minsk.
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Poroshenko says Ukraine ceasefire plan to be signed Friday
EP committees press Italian Presidency on response to Ukraine crisis. (The strategic partnership with Russia was now over -The EU to play a more ambitious international role)
Poroshenko: NATO to Send Military Aid to Ukraine. - (it is fighting on behalf of Europe)
EU considers new sanctions against Russia but has no clue how to stop war in Ukraine (FM,Maria Zakharova)
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- Statement of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko...
From the Official website of President of Ukraine :
"My international negotiations in Brussels and Minsk demonstrated a powerful request for peaceful political-diplomatic settlement of the conflict in the Donbas. The same mood dominated during my meetings with global leaders at the NATO Summit in Wales.
The entire world strives for peace, the entire Ukraine strives for peace, including millions of Donbas residents.
The highest value is human life. We must do everything possible and impossible to terminate bloodshed and put an end to people's suffering.
- Taking into account the call for ceasefire of President of Russia Vladimir Putin addressed to the heads of illegal armed groups of the Donbas and the signature of the protocol at the meeting of Trilateral contact group on the implementation of the Peace plan of the President of Ukraine, I order the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to cease fire starting from 18:00, September 5.
I hope that these agreements, including ceasefire and liberation of hostages, will be strictly observed."
http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/31174.html
5/9/14
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Les pourparlers en vue d'un cessez-le-feu en Ukraine à propos duquel le président Petro Porochenko s'était dit jeudi "prudemment optimiste" ont abouti à un accord ce vendredi à Minsk, au Bélarus. Ukrainiens et séparatistes prorusses ont signé un plan de paix....
ReplyDeleteLe "groupe de contact" composé de représentants de Kiev, de Moscou, des séparatistes et de l'OSCE (Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe) réuni vendredi dans la capitale bélarusse est parvenu à un accord sur un cessez-le-feu.
Ce cessez-le-feu doit entrer en vigueur dès 17h (15h GMT). Le président ukrainien Petro Porochenko a donc ordonné à l'armée de cesser les hostilités à partir de ce moment-là.
Jeudi, alors qu'il était l'invité de marque du sommet de l'Otan à Newport (Pays de Galles), ce dernier avait reconnu qu'un tel plan de paix constituait "un défi énorme" et avait rappelé les conditions posées par l'Ukraine: le contrôle de la frontière russo-ukrainienne par l'OSCE, le retrait de toutes les troupes russes et la libération de soldats retenus par les rebelles ou la Russie.
Après la signature de l'accord, le Premier ministre ukrainien a aussi rappelé ces conditions, et appelé les USA et l'UE à se porter garants du plan de paix. "Nous ne pourrons seuls réussir face à la Russie", a déclaré Arseni Iatseniouk.
Les discussions avaient commencé à 13h, mais la situation encore tendue dans l'est laissait croire qu'elles n'aboutiraient pas................http://www.rtbf.be/info/monde/detail_ukraine-reunion-cruciale-ce-vendredi-a-minsk-au-belarus?id=8348205
5/9/14
Ukrainian army: About 2,000 Russian troops killed in conflict so far...
ReplyDeleteKIEV - About 2,000 Russian servicemen have been killed so far in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on Friday, citing intelligence data.
It was not possible to independently confirm the figure.
Russia denies sending its troops into Ukraine in support of pro-Russian separatists battling the Kiev government's forces. Kiev and its Western backers say there is overwhelming evidence to prove the direct involvement of Russian troops in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow said Russian soldiers recently captured by Ukrainian forces had lost their way during a training exercise..........................http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Ukrainian-army-About-2000-Russian-troops-killed-in-conflict-so-far-374545
Kremlin welcomes signing of protocol at meeting of Contact Group on Ukraine...
ReplyDeleteKremlin welcomes signing of a protocol at the meeting of Contact Group on Ukraine and hopes for thorough implementation of agreements by all sides, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The Contact Group on Ukraine is drafting memorandum with step-by-step description of reached agreements on ceasefire, truce, a source familiar with the matter said. The memorandum being drafted in Minsk will contain the point on necessity of withdrawing troops from residential quarters, the source noted. No agreement has been reached yet at talks of Contact Group in Minsk about the exchange of prisoners of war in Ukraine in line with “all for all” scheme, the source added..................http://en.itar-tass.com/world/748337
EU not to lift Russia sanctions until ceasefire, political dialogue in Ukraine confirmed...
ReplyDeleteNEWPORT, September 05. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union will not lift its sanctions against Russia until it gets confirmation of a ceasefire and start of a political dialogue in Ukraine, French President Francois Hollande said after the NATO summit in Wales.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/748356
Artillery Shelling Continues in Donetsk Despite Ceasefire...
ReplyDeleteDONETSK, September 5 (RIA Novosti) – City authorities of Donetsk reported that shelling continues in the city despite ceasefire that came into force at 15:00 GMT Friday.
"As of 18:00 [local time, 15:00 GMT] situation in Donetsk remains far from being calm, sounds of explosions are heard. At the moment, artillery shelling is under way in the city’s Petrovsky district," the city council said in a statement.
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140905/192674457/Artillery-Shelling-Continues-in-Donetsk-Despite-Ceasefire.html
Working groups from both sides will be established by Monday, September 8, to solve specific issues, former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma said after the meeting of the Contact Group in Minsk....
ReplyDeleteKuchma also said the first humanitarian cargo will depart to south-east Ukraine on Saturday.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/748373
Renzi: la UE prenderà una decisione sulle sanzioni contro la Russia entro 3 giorni...
ReplyDeleteI Paesi della UE entro 3 giorni dovrebbero prendere una decisione sull'introduzione o meno di sanzioni contro la Russia.
Lo ha dichiarato il premier italiano Matteo Renzi in una conferenza stampa al termine del vertice NATO in Galles.
Ha accolto con favore l'accordo tra le forze di sicurezza di Kiev e le milizie separatiste sul cessate il fuoco. Secondo Renzi, l'eventuale rimozione o revoca delle sanzioni contro la Russia dipenderà dal rispetto dei punti dell'accordo firmato a Minsk.
Per saperne di più: http://italian.ruvr.ru/news/2014_09_05/Renzi-la-UE-prendera-una-decisione-sulle-sanzioni-contro-la-Russia-entro-3-giorni-1844/
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Wales, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that prisoner of war exchange can take place “soon, maybe tomorrow.”...
ReplyDeleteAccording to estimates enumerated by Russia's ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov, the exchange may affect “more than 1,000 people from each side.”
“We exchanged lists of prisoners and started the exchange process immediately,” said former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who represented Ukraine at the talks in Minsk.
“Within three days an expert group will be formed, which should provide a thorough plan of the release of prisoners of war,” Zurabov said.
The expert group will have to work out all the technical details, including places of exchange.
Kiev and the rebels also agreed to provide humanitarian aid to devastated regions in southeastern Ukraine.
“The first humanitarian cargo in Donbass has to be delivered on Saturday. On Monday there will be a more or less thorough plan of humanitarian corridors developed for the future for anyone who wants to help Donetsk and Lugansk,” Kuchma said. “In the next ten-day period, the second convoy of humanitarian cargo will be delivered by train. Then all donors, who want to help Donbass, will be able to send ................http://rt.com/news/185456-ukraine-peace-plan-talks/
West may lift Russia sanctions if all terms of Ukraine ceasefire observed — Obama...
ReplyDeleteNEWPORT (Wales), September 05. /ITAR-TASS/. US and EU sanctions against Russia are in force but may be lifted if all points of the agreement on ceasefire in Ukraine are implemented, US President Barack Obama told journalists after a NATO summit in Wales.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/748389
Waffenruhe könnte Desaster für Poroschenko werden...
ReplyDeleteEs klingt wie ein Durchbruch: In der Ostukraine schweigen vorerst die Waffen. Doch Präsident Poroschenko hat einen Deal gemacht, der ihn das Amt kosten und Putin einen Sieg bringen könnte.
.......Timoschenko und Jazenjuk äußern sich entsetzt
Ob Regierung und Separatisten tatsächlich auch mittelfristig das Feuer einstellen, ist unklar. Denn die Einhaltung der Waffenruhe ist von einem Friedensplan für die Ostukraine abhängig, auf den sich beide Seiten erst einigen müssen. Diese Woche legte Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin auf einer Reise in die Mongolei einen handgeschriebenen Sieben-Punkte-Entwurf vor. Unter anderem sollen Armee und Rebellen die Kämpfe einstellen und Korridore für Flüchtlinge und Hilfskonvois öffnen. Putins Plan hat jedoch einen Haken: Er sieht vor, dass sich die Armee aus der Kampfzone zurückzieht, nicht aber die Rebellen.
Premierminister Arsenij Jazenjuk und die ehemalige Regierungschefin Julia Timoschenko wiesen Putins Angebot auch schroff zurück. "Putins Plan besteht darin, aus der Ostukraine ein Transnistrien zu machen", schrieb Timoschenko im Internet-Kurznachrichtendienst Twitter. "Putin will die Ukraine zerstören und die Sowjetunion wieder errichten", schrieb Jazenjuk auf der Plattform.............usw......http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article131949152/Waffenruhe-koennte-Desaster-fuer-Poroschenko-werden.html
Kremlin: Telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko...
ReplyDeleteVladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
The discussion focussed on the situation in Ukraine in view of the Contact Group meeting in Minsk on September 5, where a Protocol on assisting a peaceful settlement in the southeast of the country was adopted. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the fact that the parties to the conflict are generally complying with the ceasefire and stressed the importance of the OSCE monitoring the situation.
The two Presidents also touched upon ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to the residents of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
The exchange of views also covered the consultations on the consequences for the Customs Union member-states of the entry into force of Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the EU.
Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko agreed to continue their dialogue.
http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/22914
6/9/14
Il presidente russo Vladimir Putin ha discusso con il capo di Stato ucraino Petro Poroshenko delle misure necessarie per garantire che il cessate il fuoco in Ucraina sia stabile e duraturo....
DeleteLo riporta l'ufficio stampa del Cremlino.
In una conversazione telefonica Putin e Poroshenko hanno osservato che le parti in conflitto in Ucraina nel suo complesso rispettano il cessate il fuoco. I due leader hanno sottolineato la necessarietà del monitoraggio della situazione da parte dell'OSCE.
I presidenti hanno anche discusso la fornitura di assistenza umanitaria nel sud-est dell'Ucraina.
Per saperne di più: http://italian.ruvr.ru/news/2014_09_06/Discussa-da-Putin-e-Poroshenko-la-situazione-in-Ucraina-3357/
Explosions have been heard near the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, a day after the government and rebels agreed a ceasefire...
ReplyDeleteA BBC correspondent in the city says intense blasts from the eastern edges have rippled across the city.
Earlier, the Ukrainian and Russian presidents said the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was "largely holding"................http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29097836
7/9/14
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 5 September 2014....
ReplyDeleteThis report is for media and the general public.
In Kharkiv, the SMM monitored a demonstration of 100 protesters in support of the Ukrainian armed forces and citizens of Mariupol at the Shevchenko monument in the evening hours on 4 September. The SMM also monitored the end of another protest in front of the Consulate of the Russian Federation. Both protests were monitored by the police and were peaceful.
In Luhansk, the SMM visited the “Krasna Talivka” border checkpoint (72 km north-east of Luhansk) where the border guards confirmed that 20 shells hit the area and showed the SMM two shell craters containing missile fragments. The SMM also visited the border crossing points at “Melovoe-Chertkovo” (140 km northeast of Luhansk), “Prosyanoye” (142 km north of Luhansk) and “Novabyeloya” (184 km north of Luhansk) where the situation was calm and the border guards stated that the situation remained unchanged and no Russian military movement was observed.
In Donetsk, while on patrol on the outskirts of Donetsk, in the “Oktyabrskiy” area, the SMM heard intense shelling targeting the airport and originating from both the east and the west. The SMM witnessed damage to several buildings, which were reported to have occurred on 4 September and include direct hits on the cultural house, five apartment buildings and a residential house with a total of two deaths being reported. Furthermore two “Grad” missiles landed within the Hospital complex causing three light casualties and some material damage. The Hospital continues to function.
The situation in Mariupol remained tense (see Spot Report of 5 September).
In Dnipropetrovsk, the SMM monitored a ‘Peace Rally’ in Berdyansk (280 km south-east of Dnipropetrovsk) in support of a peaceful solution to the crisis. The protest was attended by 400 to 500 people and was monitored by the police. Several speakers were women who called the NGO “Mothers of Russia” to join hands. The protest was peaceful when the SMM left the scene...............http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/123256?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=oscelatestnews
6/9/14
Minsk ceasefire protocol: Ukraine to be decentralized, special status for Lugansk, Donetsk...
ReplyDeleteThe OSCE has revealed the 12-point roadmap behind the September 5 truce signed in Minsk. It says that Ukraine must adopt a new law, allowing for a special status for Lugansk and Donetsk regions, and hold early elections there....
The document, titled ‘Protocol on the results of consultations of the Trilateral Contact Group’ and signed in Minsk on September 5, outlines what needs to be done for the ceasefire to stay in place.
“To decentralize power, including through the adoption by Ukraine of law 'on provisional procedure for local government in parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions (law on special status),'” states one of the provisions in the document................http://rt.com/news/185700-lugansk-donetsk-special-status/
7/9/14
LPR Head: National Guard, Ukraine’s Army Remain in Luhansk, Donetsk Illegally...
ReplyDeleteThe head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) Igor Plotnitsky has said it needs to be clarified what Kiev sees as "illegal armed groups”, while Ukraine’s army and National Guard must be withdrawn from the territories of the republics.
"With regard to the item on the withdrawal of illegal armed groups, military vehicles, fighters and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine, it is necessary to first understand what groups exactly are to be considered illegal. We believe the National Guard itself to be an illegal armed group," Plotnitsky told RIA Novosti by telephone.
"We believe that the militants of (Igor) Kolomoiskiy must be expelled from Ukraine and all of Europe. We believe that the military equipment of the Ukrainian army is illegally present on both Luhansk and Donetsk territories. If Ukraine sees this point the same way we do, then we’re in for it. If not, then we must discuss this."................http://en.ria.ru/world/20140907/192709212/LPR-Head-National-Guard-Ukraines-Army-Remain-in-Luhansk-Donetsk.html
7/9/14
Ukrainian PM: Kiev to Impose Martial Law in Donbas if Ceasefire Agreement Fails...
ReplyDeleteKIEV, September 7 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine will be forced to impose martial law in Donbas (the country’s southeastern regions), if the ceasefire agreement reached at the Minsk talks on Friday does not yield any positive results, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Sunday.
“If we talk about the ceasefire and the peace talks, when there is a peace plan, a peace plan supported by the EU, a peace plan supported by the US and a peace plan implemented by Russia, understandably, martial law is not necessary, but if this truce ends the same way as the previous truces, and not only in Ukraine, there will be no other way,” – Yatsenyuk said in an interview with the Ukrainian 1+1 TV Channel..........................http://en.ria.ru/politics/20140907/192726028/Ukrainian-PM-Kiev-to-Impose-Martial-Law-in-Donbas-if-Ceasefire.html
7/9/14
Ukrainian authorities, militia leaders begin POW exchange...
ReplyDeleteKIEV, September 08. /ITAR-TASS/. Kiev and the militias in eastern Ukraine began exchanging prisoners of war (POWs) on Monday as part of the peace plan approved by the Contact Group on the crisis settlement at its meeting in Minsk on September 5.
The number of persons to be exchanged remains unclear as the sides cited conflicting figures during a videoconference organised by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said during his trip to the region on Monday that 1,200 army troops had been handed over to Kiev since last Friday. “Another 863 persons, who are still in captivity, are to be freed before the end of the week,” he said.
Andrei Lysenko, the spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council, named a different figure. “Twenty Ukrainian citizens have been released and we are working to get another 100 freed,” he said....................http://en.itar-tass.com/world/748655
8/9/14
In the framework of the working visit to Donetsk region, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko visited Illich Steel and Iron Works of Mariupol....
ReplyDeleteIn the course of his conversation with the working staff of the enterprise, he emphasized that as President, he would do everything to achieve peace in the country. "We will do everything for peace, but we will also prepare for the defense of our country," Petro Poroshenko said.
He expressed gratitude to the workers for their contribution to the defense capacity of the state. "Your work will protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Low bow and sincere gratefulness to you for that. When the entire Ukraine demonstrates unity, no war, treacherous attacks or elections will prevent peace," the President said.....................http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/31188.html
8/9/14
Russian and Ukrainian diplomats on Monday exchanged angry remarks at a meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to the plight of children in armed conflicts.....
ReplyDeleteTheir argument ended with an appeal on the Russian side “to give up fruitless politicking” and “to focus on achieving peace and overcoming the harshest humanitarian crisis”.
Deputy Russian Ambassador to the UN, Yevgeny Zagainov, called attention of participants in the debates to the perilous aftermath of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ punitive operation in the south-east of Ukraine.
He recalled UN’s most recent data saying that no less than 23 children had died and 38 more had been injured in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since mid-April.
“Causing particular concern is the plight of hundreds of children who need urgent medical aid,” Zagainov said. “These are the children with dependence on insulin, children with oncology and other heavy illnesses, as well as disabled children. More than that, thousands of children in the zone of conflict have been orphaned.” ........................http://en.itar-tass.com/world/748688
9/9/14
Kiev, rebels agree to extra measures to ensure Ukraine cease-fire...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Pro-Russian separatists and representatives from Kiev and Moscow agreed on Saturday on further measures to ensure a cease-fire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists.
Violations of a Sept. 5 cease-fire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists, whom Kiev says have been reinforced by Russian weapons and soldiers crossing over the two countries' porous border, have kept Ukrainian troops on full alert.
Former president Leonid Kuchma, representing Kiev at talks of the "contact group", said the two sides had agreed to move artillery 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from the front line on both sides, to create a 30 kilometer (18 mile) buffer zone.
"Heavy artillery will be moved 15 kilometers away from the front line," said Kuchma after the talks that lasted several hours in a hotel in central Minsk.
He also said that monitors from the European rights and security OSCE watchdog would be checking the 30 kilometer buffer zone along the front line................http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/19/us-ukraine-crisis-talks-idUSKBN0HE2JD20140919?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
20/9/14