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| Fighting Tapers Off in Ukraine as Cease-Fire Takes Effect | Fighting Tapers Off in Ukraine as Cease-Fire Takes Effect |
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| KIEV, Ukraine — Government forces and the Russian-backed separatist rebels fighting in southeastern Ukraine will observe a cease-fire starting Friday, negotiators from all sides announced at a news conference in Minsk, Belarus. | KIEV, Ukraine — Government forces and the Russian-backed separatist rebels fighting in southeastern Ukraine will observe a cease-fire starting Friday, negotiators from all sides announced at a news conference in Minsk, Belarus. |
| Speaking from Minsk, negotiators representing the Ukrainian government, the separatists, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that the cease-fire would come into force at 6 p.m. local time, or 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. | Speaking from Minsk, negotiators representing the Ukrainian government, the separatists, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that the cease-fire would come into force at 6 p.m. local time, or 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. |
| As the truce went into effect, fighting that had raged throughout the day around the strategic port city of Mariupol tapered off, and Ukrainian soldiers could be seen pulling back to their bases. But in interviews, the troops said they had not yet received orders to stand down. | As the truce went into effect, fighting that had raged throughout the day around the strategic port city of Mariupol tapered off, and Ukrainian soldiers could be seen pulling back to their bases. But in interviews, the troops said they had not yet received orders to stand down. |
| At a news conference at a NATO summit meeting in Wales, President Obama said he was “hopeful but, based on past experience, also skeptical” about the prospects of the truce holding. | At a news conference at a NATO summit meeting in Wales, President Obama said he was “hopeful but, based on past experience, also skeptical” about the prospects of the truce holding. |
| The Ukrainian national information agency released a list of the 14 points included in the plan: some focused on the cease-fire itself, some on practical steps to get the government functioning again, and some on the political future of the Donbass region. | The Ukrainian national information agency released a list of the 14 points included in the plan: some focused on the cease-fire itself, some on practical steps to get the government functioning again, and some on the political future of the Donbass region. |
| The agreement followed, almost verbatim, a cease-fire proposal issued by President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine in June. | The agreement followed, almost verbatim, a cease-fire proposal issued by President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine in June. |
| It included amnesty for all those who disarm and who did not commit serious crimes, as well as the release of all hostages. Militias will be disbanded and a 10-kilometer buffer zone — about six miles — established along the Russian-Ukrainian border. A prisoner exchange was set to begin as early as Saturday, according to Interfax-Ukraine. | It included amnesty for all those who disarm and who did not commit serious crimes, as well as the release of all hostages. Militias will be disbanded and a 10-kilometer buffer zone — about six miles — established along the Russian-Ukrainian border. A prisoner exchange was set to begin as early as Saturday, according to Interfax-Ukraine. |
| The area will be subject to joint patrols. The separatists agreed to leave the administrative buildings they control and to allow broadcasts from Ukraine to resume on local television. | The area will be subject to joint patrols. The separatists agreed to leave the administrative buildings they control and to allow broadcasts from Ukraine to resume on local television. |
| For the future, the agreement said power would be decentralized and the Russian language protected. An early, failed attempt by more extreme elements in the Ukrainian Parliament to ban Russian as an official language was one of the elements that Moscow seized upon to help inspire the uprising. | |
| The agreement said the executive in control of each region, the equivalent of a governor, would be appointed after consultations with each region. It also promised early elections and a job-creation program. | The agreement said the executive in control of each region, the equivalent of a governor, would be appointed after consultations with each region. It also promised early elections and a job-creation program. |
| Mr. Poroshenko confirmed the agreement in a statement posted on the presidential website. | Mr. Poroshenko confirmed the agreement in a statement posted on the presidential website. |
| “The whole world is striving for peace. The whole of Ukraine is striving for peace, including millions of citizens in Donbass,” the statement said, referring to the region that includes the separatist strongholds. | “The whole world is striving for peace. The whole of Ukraine is striving for peace, including millions of citizens in Donbass,” the statement said, referring to the region that includes the separatist strongholds. |
| Mr. Poroshenko said he had ordered the Ukrainian Army to stop firing and called for strict monitoring of the cease-fire by international observers. | Mr. Poroshenko said he had ordered the Ukrainian Army to stop firing and called for strict monitoring of the cease-fire by international observers. |
| The cease-fire proposals included a rough outline of a possible political outcome to the conflict, but negotiating that could be a significant hurdle. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been pressing for regional autonomy for the southeastern regions, which would allow Moscow to influence events in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital. But the Ukrainian government has thus far supported only the idea of decentralization. | The cease-fire proposals included a rough outline of a possible political outcome to the conflict, but negotiating that could be a significant hurdle. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been pressing for regional autonomy for the southeastern regions, which would allow Moscow to influence events in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital. But the Ukrainian government has thus far supported only the idea of decentralization. |
| Timothy Ash, a market analyst at Standard Bank in London who closely monitors developments in Ukraine and Russia, said the agreement appeared likely to usher in a long, frozen conflict. It could effectively become a political stalemate like those in other Russian-dominated, quasi-independent “gray zones,” including Transnistria in Moldova and Abkhazia along the border with Georgia. | Timothy Ash, a market analyst at Standard Bank in London who closely monitors developments in Ukraine and Russia, said the agreement appeared likely to usher in a long, frozen conflict. It could effectively become a political stalemate like those in other Russian-dominated, quasi-independent “gray zones,” including Transnistria in Moldova and Abkhazia along the border with Georgia. |
| “Russian regular and irregular forces are not going to withdraw unless Poroshenko delivers on Putin’s agenda for a federal solution for Ukraine, which is really a nonstarter for any Ukrainian politician and political suicide, in effect,” Mr. Ash wrote on Friday in a note to clients. Had Mr. Poroshenko refused to negotiate a cease-fire, however, Ukraine would have risked losing Mariupol. | “Russian regular and irregular forces are not going to withdraw unless Poroshenko delivers on Putin’s agenda for a federal solution for Ukraine, which is really a nonstarter for any Ukrainian politician and political suicide, in effect,” Mr. Ash wrote on Friday in a note to clients. Had Mr. Poroshenko refused to negotiate a cease-fire, however, Ukraine would have risked losing Mariupol. |
| The agreement had been expected after both Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin said earlier this week that a truce was likely to emerge from the talks. | The agreement had been expected after both Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin said earlier this week that a truce was likely to emerge from the talks. |
| In Minsk, Ukraine was represented by a former president, Leonid Kuchma, and the rebels by Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the prime minister and military commander of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. | In Minsk, Ukraine was represented by a former president, Leonid Kuchma, and the rebels by Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the prime minister and military commander of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. |
| Russia was represented by its ambassador to Kiev, Mikhail Zurabov, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is acting for Europe in the crisis, was represented by its ambassador here, Heidi Tagliavini. | Russia was represented by its ambassador to Kiev, Mikhail Zurabov, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is acting for Europe in the crisis, was represented by its ambassador here, Heidi Tagliavini. |
| Ukrainian forces had suffered heavy setbacks in the last two weeks, with the separatists breaking out of their isolation in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk and opening a third front along the strategic southern coast around Mariupol. | Ukrainian forces had suffered heavy setbacks in the last two weeks, with the separatists breaking out of their isolation in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk and opening a third front along the strategic southern coast around Mariupol. |
| The Russian-backed rebels, who seized control of the coastal town of Novoazovsk last week, had advanced about halfway from Novoazovsk to Mariupol, and they had said repeatedly before the cease-fire was announced that an attack on Mariupol was imminent. | The Russian-backed rebels, who seized control of the coastal town of Novoazovsk last week, had advanced about halfway from Novoazovsk to Mariupol, and they had said repeatedly before the cease-fire was announced that an attack on Mariupol was imminent. |
| Officials interpreted the opening of a new, southern front as an attempt by Moscow to force Mr. Poroshenko to negotiate with the rebels, whom he has called terrorists. | Officials interpreted the opening of a new, southern front as an attempt by Moscow to force Mr. Poroshenko to negotiate with the rebels, whom he has called terrorists. |
| Although some Ukrainians reject the idea of a compromise, a majority are weary of upheaval. The current crisis started with demonstrations in Kiev in November that resulted in the overthrow of the Russian-allied government and, eventually, a conflict in the east in which more than 2,600 people have died, by the United Nations’ count. | Although some Ukrainians reject the idea of a compromise, a majority are weary of upheaval. The current crisis started with demonstrations in Kiev in November that resulted in the overthrow of the Russian-allied government and, eventually, a conflict in the east in which more than 2,600 people have died, by the United Nations’ count. |
| The conflict has developed into the most severe confrontation between Russia and the West since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, with repeated rounds of Western sanctions against Moscow and, this week, the rejuvenation of NATO to act as a deterrent against the Kremlin. | The conflict has developed into the most severe confrontation between Russia and the West since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, with repeated rounds of Western sanctions against Moscow and, this week, the rejuvenation of NATO to act as a deterrent against the Kremlin. |
| Analysts were divided on whether the cease-fire would hold, not least because there were divisions among the separatists themselves about what they wanted. “We are planning to continue the course toward secession,” said Igor Plotnitskiy, the prime minister of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic, according to the RIA Novosti news service. “The cease-fire is a necessary measure. There is a lot of work ahead of us.” | Analysts were divided on whether the cease-fire would hold, not least because there were divisions among the separatists themselves about what they wanted. “We are planning to continue the course toward secession,” said Igor Plotnitskiy, the prime minister of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic, according to the RIA Novosti news service. “The cease-fire is a necessary measure. There is a lot of work ahead of us.” |
| The Ukrainian side also demonstrated a hard line. Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk said on Twitter that transforming the cease-fire into a lasting peace would require three things: a long-term cease-fire, the withdrawal of the Russian Army and a wall along the border. | The Ukrainian side also demonstrated a hard line. Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk said on Twitter that transforming the cease-fire into a lasting peace would require three things: a long-term cease-fire, the withdrawal of the Russian Army and a wall along the border. |
| Ukraine and many Western observers have accused Russia of backing the rebels with fighters and equipment, and of moving its own troops, armor and artillery into Ukrainian territory to carry the fight to the government. Mr. Putin and his government have denied those accusations and insisted that Russia is not a party to the conflict. | Ukraine and many Western observers have accused Russia of backing the rebels with fighters and equipment, and of moving its own troops, armor and artillery into Ukrainian territory to carry the fight to the government. Mr. Putin and his government have denied those accusations and insisted that Russia is not a party to the conflict. |
| The pause in the violence came as NATO leaders, seeking to counter Russian aggression, approved plans for a rapid-reaction force in Eastern Europe that could mobilize if an alliance country in the region came under attack. | The pause in the violence came as NATO leaders, seeking to counter Russian aggression, approved plans for a rapid-reaction force in Eastern Europe that could mobilize if an alliance country in the region came under attack. |
| “Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s secretary general, said at the meeting in Newport, Wales, according to The Associated Press. Although Ukraine is not a NATO member, alliance nations in Central and Eastern Europe have expressed alarm at the Russian-backed separatists’ fight for control of regions in eastern Ukraine. | “Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s secretary general, said at the meeting in Newport, Wales, according to The Associated Press. Although Ukraine is not a NATO member, alliance nations in Central and Eastern Europe have expressed alarm at the Russian-backed separatists’ fight for control of regions in eastern Ukraine. |
| Western leaders were also preparing another round of sanctions against Russia, but Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said those might be rescinded if Russia withdrew its troops from Ukraine after the truce took effect. Russia has denied that its troops are actively involved in the fighting. | Western leaders were also preparing another round of sanctions against Russia, but Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said those might be rescinded if Russia withdrew its troops from Ukraine after the truce took effect. Russia has denied that its troops are actively involved in the fighting. |
| With the NATO meeting largely focused on events in Ukraine, the Ukrainian government tried on Friday to shine a spotlight on Russia’s direct involvement in fighting in the east. An estimated 2,000 Russian soldiers have died, Col. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military, said at a briefing in Kiev. He gave no basis or time frame for that figure, which could not be independently verified. He said a convoy of 10 vehicles carrying dead and wounded soldiers had crossed from Ukraine into Russia on Thursday evening. | With the NATO meeting largely focused on events in Ukraine, the Ukrainian government tried on Friday to shine a spotlight on Russia’s direct involvement in fighting in the east. An estimated 2,000 Russian soldiers have died, Col. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military, said at a briefing in Kiev. He gave no basis or time frame for that figure, which could not be independently verified. He said a convoy of 10 vehicles carrying dead and wounded soldiers had crossed from Ukraine into Russia on Thursday evening. |
| There has been an outcry in Russia among military families over the lack of information about soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Some Russians have accused the government of hiding the information, much as it did during the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya. But its estimates of those killed and wounded have been far lower than the figure given by Colonel Lysenko. | There has been an outcry in Russia among military families over the lack of information about soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Some Russians have accused the government of hiding the information, much as it did during the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya. But its estimates of those killed and wounded have been far lower than the figure given by Colonel Lysenko. |