Events

MINSK, 22 September (BelTA) – The contact group on Ukraine signed memorandum in Minsk, former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma told media following the meeting of the Russia-Ukraine-OSCE group with the participation of the representatives of the self-proclaimed republics on 20 September, BelTA has learned.

“I would like to thank the contact group for a long but constructive dialogue today. We have signed a memorandum of executing the provisions of the protocol signed at the consultations of the trilateral group on 5 September. The parties have agreed upon: first, a mutual ceasefire by both sides of the conflict, second, military units from both conflicting sides must halt at the frontline from 19 September, third, a ban on the use of all weapons and offensive operations, fourth, within 24 hours of the memorandum’s signing, weapons of more than 100 mm caliber must be pulled back at least 15 kilometers from the frontline, including from population centers, to create a ceasefire zone of at least 30 kilometers wide, fifth, heavy weapons and military hardware are banned from population centers, planting of mines at the boundary of the security zone is banned and all mines must be cleared. Military aircraft and foreign aircraft, with the exception of OSCE aircraft, are banned from flying above the security zone. An OSCE observer mission is to be deployed in the ceasefire zone within 24 hours of the adoption of the memorandum. All foreign armed groups, military hardware as well as militants and mercenaries are to be withdrawn from the Ukrainian territory under OSCE monitoring,” he said.

Head of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic Igor Plotnitsky for his part noted that the ceasefire regime had been violated in some cases. “The memorandum will put a stop to this. There will be a full ceasefire. We believe that the signing of today’s document is a chance for all of us. Time has not been wasted today,” he said.