UKRAINE: President Petro Poroshenko unveils his peace plan that includes a brief ceasefire

Record ID: 349954

  • Title: UKRAINE: President Petro Poroshenko unveils his peace plan that includes a brief ceasefire
  • Date: 20th June 2014
  • Summary: IZYUM, KHARKIV REGION UKRAINE (JUNE 20 2014) (REUTERS) UKRAINE PRESIDENT, PETRO POROSHENKO, (WEARING MILITARY UNIFORM) WALKING SURROUNDED BY OFFICIALS AND MILITARIES VARIOUS OF POROSHENKO EXAMINING DAMAGES ON UKRAINIAN POLICE ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER (APC) SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIERS VARIOUS OF POROSHENKO AWARDING SOLDIERS VARIOUS OF SPECIAL FORCES LINED UP (SOUNDBITE) (
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Conflict,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3USISX40ADB2F84KBTWOS7GGA
  • Story Text: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday (June 20) ordered a seven-day ceasefire in the fight against pro-Russian separatists, but also warned them they could face death if they did not use the time to put down their guns.
    Poroshenko, installed only three weeks ago as president after seven months of turmoil in the ex-Soviet republic, ordered government forces to cease firing to allow his peace plan for the region to take root.

    "I'm giving an order to all military units, to all National Guard units, Police units, Border Guard, Territorial Defence units to cease fire. We hope very much that this order will be heard and supported by all sides of the conflict, by all those who are holding weapons," Poroshenko told military officers in the east.
    But after fierce fighting on Thursday about 100 km (60 miles) from the Russian border that apparently caused heavy losses for separatists and some deaths on the Ukrainian side, Poroshenko backed his declaration with a warning to the rebels.

    "We'll invite an OSCE observer to every check point. Exactly for the reason of taking record of any possible attacks or use of weapon against Ukrainian soldiers, than Ukrainian soldier has the right to fire back," he said, referring to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
    The ceasefire will run from 10 p.m. on Friday until 10 a.m. on June 27, it said.
    After announcement of the ceasefire, Poroshenko launched a 15-point peace plan to end the insurgency in the Russian-speaking east which erupted in April after street protests in the capital Kiev toppled the Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich.
    Russia subsequently annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. Kiev's new authorities quickly saw the hand of Moscow when separatist groups took control of strategic buildings and towns in the east, declaring "people's republics" and declaring they wanted to join Russia.
    The peace plan would offer a safety corridor out to Russia for rebels and volunteer Russian fighters on condition they lay down their arms.
    It also calls for establishment of a 10 km (6.25 mile)-wide "buffer zone" along the 1,900 km (1,180 mile)-long border.
    The plan would offer freedom from prosecution for separatists who put down their arms and had not committed "serious crimes" and require all hostages to be freed.
    It calls for "decentralisation" of powers and full Russian-language rights to address the grievances of people in the east.
    Ukraine says fighters from Russia and supplies of guns and other military equipment have been pouring into the country to support the separatists.
    But though relations with Russia have deteriorated sharply, the pro-Western Poroshenko is under pressure all the same to secure support from Moscow, as well as from his backers in the West, for his plan.
    Poroshenko's new foreign minister will present the blueprint on Monday to his European Union counterparts in Luxembourg. Their support assumes added value after the political association agreement signed between the two sides on June 27.
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