Ukraine, pro-Russians agree on military pullback in three hot spots
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Ukrainian servicemen stand at a government-controlled position on the front line of the conflict with pro-Russia forces in Donetsk, November 7, 2015. (Photo by AFP)
The Ukrainian government and the pro-Russia forces fighting each other in eastern Ukraine have agreed on a deal to withdraw troops from three battered front line areas.
According to Press TV, under a Wednesday deal, the two sides agreed to pull back their forces from the three small towns of Stanytsia Luganska and Zolote in the Lugansk region and Petrovske in the Donetsk region, which are each four square kilometers in size.
The military withdrawal, which will be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), is scheduled to be completed within three days after its commencement at an unspecified date next month.
“After three months of insistent negotiations…, today we finally agreed a framework document on pulling back forces and equipment,” said Martin Sajdik, with the OSCE.
As part of a de-escalation project, the accord comes after the Minsk agreement, which was itself reached back in September 2014. The Minsk deal reduced the violence in the restive region but failed to put an end to the conflict.
“This document is intended to de-escalate the situation along the line of contact and effectively creates conditions to prevent the use of firearms,” said Ukrainian government spokeswoman Darka Olifer, referring to the Wednesday deal.
“Its implementation in those three areas would allow the working-out of approaches for possible separation of forces along the entire line of contact,” she added.
ME
