Ukraine crisis: Leaders agree peace roadmap
BBC.com
12 February 2015
An agreement aimed at ending the fighting in Ukraine has been reached, following marathon talks in Belarus.
The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France announced that a ceasefire would begin on 15 February.
The deal also includes weapon withdrawals and prisoner exchanges, but key issues remain to be settled.
The pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have signed the agreement. Thousands of people have died in almost a year of fighting in the region.
The BBC’s Richard Galpin in Minsk says the deal is very similar to a ceasefire agreed last September, which unravelled very quickly.
The latest agreement includes:
Ceasefire to begin at 00:01 local time on 15 February
Heavy weapons to be withdrawn, beginning on 16 February and completed in two weeks
All prisoners to be released; amnesty for those involved in fighting
Withdrawal of all foreign troops and weapons from Ukrainian territory. Disarmament of all illegal groups
Ukraine to allow resumption of normal life in rebel areas, by lifting restrictions
Constitutional reform to enable decentralisation for rebel regions by the end of 2015
Ukraine to control border with Russia if conditions met by the end of 2015
The Rest…HERE
