Foreign ministers set plan for Ukraine ceasefire
BERLIN — Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France agreed Wednesday on a series of steps for a resumption of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between government troops and pro-Russia separatists has taken more than 400 lives since April.
The steps include reopening talks no later than Saturday “with the goal of reaching an unconditional and mutually agreed sustainable ceasefire” to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, their declaration said.
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has increased since a much-violated 10day ceasefire expired late Monday. Four Ukrainian troops were killed as government forces attacked rebel positions, a military official said.
Russia supported the proposal to give Ukrainian border guards and OSCE representatives access to Russian territory to take part in controlling two border crossings once the ceasefire is in place, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the talks in Berlin.
Border posts have become a key issue because Ukraine and the United States say military equipment and reinforcements are flowing across the border from Russia. Moscow denies arming the rebels.
Asked whether Russia has any influence over the rebels, Lavrov said “we have possibilities to influence those who defend their families, their soil and their territory.”
Lavrov stressed that Russia would not allow the ceasefire to be used to give the military time to regroup and bring in reinforcements.
The ministers’ declaration specifically states that the ceasefire negotiations will be handled by the so-called contact group, something Russia has insisted upon. The group, which already has held two rounds of peace talks, includes Ukrainians trusted by Russia, the Russian ambassador and separatist leaders.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed hope that the group would meet before Saturday, calling it “a first and an important step.” It wasn’t clear where the meeting would take place.