Putin appeals for ceasefire extension in eastern Ukraine
The talks covered whether observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe would be dispatched to monitor the Ukrainian-Russian border.
In a bid to end two months of fighting, Poroshenko and pro-Russian rebels announced early Saturday that the week-long ceasefire that ended Friday was extended until 19:00 GMT (11:00 Moscow time) Monday. It was not yet clarified if a second extension would be agreed.
The ceasefire was the first step in a 15-point peace plan outlined last week by Poroshenko.
There were protests in Kyiv by hundreds of volunteer Ukrainian fighters against an extension of the ceasefire with self-defense forces in eastern Ukraine.
According to local media, the protesters outside the Ukrainian president’s office called on Poroshenko to end the ceasefire and declare martial law. They demanded to be better equipped for a relaunch of the recently halted “anti-terrorist operation” in eastern Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Petr Poroshenko has signed a decree, including a plan for a peaceful settlement of the situation in the East of the country, approved on June 16 by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC).
Earlier, Poroshenko stated that after Ukrainian law enforcers had restored the border control, he would give an order to cease fire in the East. However, the duration would be very short and during this period, amnesty would be offered to those who lay down their arms and had not committed serious crimes. Poroshenko promises to create a corridor so that unarmed militiamen will have the opportunity to leave Ukrainian territory. On Friday, after the security forces reported they had established control of the borders, the President of Ukraine gave an order to all security units involved in the special operation in the country’s East to cease fire for a week.
Read also:
Anti-constitutional coup has split Ukraine – President Putin
Armistice between Ukrainian forces and militia to end today
Putin, Merkel discuss ceasefire between conflicting parties in Ukraine by phone – Kremlin
Donetsk People’s Republic authorities say no ceasefire in region
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 4]