Ukraine Crisis: Leaders Agree Peace Roadmap

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A deal which is aimed at ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine has been agreed, following marathon talks in Belarus. BBC was there:

The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France announced that a ceasefire would begin on 15 February. The deal also involves the withdrawal of heavy weapons from conflict areas, but some 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.

French President Francois Hollande said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel would ask their European Union partners to support the deal at a summit later on Thursday.

The agreement – reached after 17 hours of negotiations in Minsk – includes:

  • Ceasefire to begin on 15 February

  • Heavy weapons to be pulled out: Beginning on 17 February and completed in two weeks

  • All prisoners to be released; amnesty for those involved in fighting

  • Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, weapons and mercenaries 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 control of border with Russia to be completed by the end of 2015