Kiev And Moscow Agree To “Steps Towards A Peaceful Resolution” In Eastern Ukraine

Russian President, Vladimir Putin has divulged a seven step plan for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Those steps are as follows:

1. Militias should cease military advances in the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions.

2. Pro-Kiev armed forces should withdraw to a distance that excludes the possibility of shelling settlements.

3. Implement full and objective international control over ceasefire observation and monitoring.

4. Exclude the use of combat aircraft against civilians and villages.

5. Prisoner/captive-exchange via an ‘all-in-all’ formula, without preconditions.

6. Humanitarian corridors for refugees movement and delivery of humanitarian aid across Donetsk and Lugansk Regions.

7. Direct repair-crew access to destroyed social and transit infrastructure with supportive aid.

Previously Reported

The presidents of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, held a telephone conversation in which they agreed to take “steps that will facilitate the establishment of peace” in the separatist provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk. But not too long after these verbal agreement was announced, the Ukrainian president issued a public statement to correct his initial statement announcing that the agreement between the two leaders would mean a “permanent ceasefire” in eastern Ukraine.

According to the new statement posted on the website of the Presidency, the conversation the two leaders reached an agreement on “the regime of ceasefire” in the region of Donbas, where Donetsk and Lugansk are, and both agreed “on steps to facilitate the establishment of peace.”

With his second statement Kiev backtracks on its initial announcement, after Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, had flatly refused a cease-fire between Poroshenko and Putin as Russia “is not a party to the conflict.”

“Putin and Poroshenko actually discussed the steps that would allow a ceasefire between the military and the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” said the spokesman, quoted by RIA Novosti, before the new version of the telephone conversation offered by Kiev came out. “Russia can not physically agree to a ceasefire because it is not a party to the conflict” said Peskov.

Previously, the Kremlin had indicated that the two presidents had discussed “the military and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine” in a phone conversation.

“They exchanged their views on priority measures to stop the bloodshed in the southeast of the country,” Peskov had said, explaining that the “point of view of Putin on possible solutions to this crisis is largely in line with the Ukrainian president. “

The statements by the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, did not confirm that there is an agreement on a ceasefire, which is normal if you consider that Russia maintains that what happens in eastern Ukraine is an internal conflict in that country and that Kiev should negotiate with the rebels.

But Moscow had been pressing for some time for a truce that could be agreed on without preconditions and not like the one offered by the Government of Ukraine, which required, as a preliminary step, that the separatists handed over their arms.

The situation in the front lines, which has been marked by a successful military offensive by the rebels, has probably convinced Poroshenko about the need to withdraw his troops and to agree to a ceasefire to allow him to run on a peace-driven campaign without the backdrop of an army in retreat.

The president has decided to dissolve parliament and has called for a new election next October 26th. So far, Poroshenko had no party, since he was put into power by the United States and therefore, depended on other political forces to approve new laws in the Verkhovna Rada.

This support was was insufficient to impose the reforms he wanted, including modifications to the Constitution that give greater powers to the president.

It is unclear if the slow walk towards a ceasefire will influence the new situation in the decision of the European Union to introduce new sanctions against Russia. The punitive measures package is ready and should be approved on Friday.

Until the truce is not confirmed by the eastern militias, it is early to claim that hostilities have ceased in eastern Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian president the telephone conversation with Putin was key to “reach an agreement on steps that will contribute to the establishment of peace,” but gives no details; thus, for example, it is unclear who will ensure compliance with the truce, but most likely would be the OSCE mission to Ukraine.

A representative of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk said it has serious doubts that all the units involved in the military operation against the rebels agree to a ceasefire.

The problem, as explained by the spokesman of the international information service of the Defense Ministry of the eastern militias, Vladislav Brig, is that “Poroshenko is not in control of the punishment battalions.”

Soon after, Donetsk Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Antyufeyev said precisely that the ceasefire goes through the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the area.

On the front lines, fighting for control of the airport in Donetsk continued on Wednesday morning, and the rebels claimed to have shot down a new fighter SU-25.

Meanwhile, the death of Russian photographer Andrei Stenin with whom contact was lost on August 5 was confirmed. The photojournalist was killed, judging by the data available, when a shell hit the car he was traveling on.

Luis R. Miranda is the Founder and Editor of The Real Agenda. His 16 years of experience in Journalism include television, radio, print and Internet news. Luis obtained his Journalism degree from Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, where he graduated in Mass Media Communication in 1998. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcasting from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Among his most distinguished interviews are: Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres and James Hansen from NASA Space Goddard Institute. Read more about Luis.