Ukraine deal with pro-Russian rebels at Minsk talks
20 Sep BBC
Ukraine's government and pro-Russia rebels have agreed a memorandum
on a peace plan for the eastern conflict.
The deal includes setting up a 30km (19-mile) buffer zone, a ban on
overflights of part of eastern Ukraine by military aircraft and the
withdrawal of “foreign mercenaries” on both sides. The agreement was
announced at talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk, where a ceasefire
was agreed two weeks ago.More than 3,000 have died in fighting in two
eastern regions since April.The original ceasefire agreed on 5 September
has been frequently violated but is still holding.
Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine
with weapons and military personnel, but Russia denies it has any role
there.The deal was reached after late-night talks between
representatives of Ukraine, Russia, eastern separatists and the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).Correspondents
say it is an effort to add substance to the fragile ceasefire
deal.Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, representing Kiev at the
talks, said that all sides had agreed to move back some of their heavy
weapons.
“Heavy artillery will be moved 15km away from the front line” he
said.He added that the deal would be implemented within 24 hours and
monitors from the OSCE would travel to the buffer zone to check for
compliance.Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko said that the two
sides did not discuss the status of the rebel-held areas of Luhansk and
Donetsk.
“We have our opinion on it while Ukraine has its own,” he
said.Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, representing Moscow
at the talks, said that “mercenaries” were fighting on both sides, and
called on OSCE to oversee their removal.Russia has repeatedly said that
any of its citizens fighting alongside separatists in Ukraine are doing
so in a private capacity.But Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of
actively sending troops and heavy weapons into Ukraine. |