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Ukrainian Military and Separatists Observe ‘Silent Day’ Ukrainian Military and Rebels Observe ‘Silent Day’
(about 4 hours later)
MOSCOW — Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian government forces observed a cease-fire agreement on Tuesday to bring what officials called a “silent day,” at least one, to the now six-month war in eastern Ukraine. MOSCOW — Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian government forces observed a cease-fire agreement on Tuesday to bring what officials called a “silent day,” at least one, to the now six-month war in eastern Ukraine.
The cease-fire was to coincide with the start of a new round of peace talks involving the European Union, Ukraine, Russia and separatists in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Though a dispute over the agenda delayed the talks, Ukraine and the separatists went ahead with the quiet day on the front all the same. The cease-fire was to coincide with the start of a new round of peace talks involving the European Union, Ukraine, Russia and separatists and set to take place in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Though a dispute over the agenda delayed the talks, Ukraine and the separatists went ahead with the quiet day on the front all the same.
In a statement, Ukraine’s military said President Petro O. Poroshenko had ordered a cease-fire “along all positions of all forces in the counterterrorist operation,” as Ukraine refers to the conflict. Separatists issued similar avowals to hold fire.In a statement, Ukraine’s military said President Petro O. Poroshenko had ordered a cease-fire “along all positions of all forces in the counterterrorist operation,” as Ukraine refers to the conflict. Separatists issued similar avowals to hold fire.
The halt in shooting in fact merely honored, for one day, a cease-fire brokered three months ago, also in Minsk, on Sept. 5. That agreement unraveled immediately, and the subsequent fighting has killed an average of 13 people per day since, according to the United Nations. The Ukraine war has killed about 4,000 people since April and displaced about a million refugees.The halt in shooting in fact merely honored, for one day, a cease-fire brokered three months ago, also in Minsk, on Sept. 5. That agreement unraveled immediately, and the subsequent fighting has killed an average of 13 people per day since, according to the United Nations. The Ukraine war has killed about 4,000 people since April and displaced about a million refugees.
Russia insists that Ukraine’s Western patrons accept that Ukraine will become a neutral country, along the guidelines of the informal post-World War II agreements that kept Finland in Moscow’s loose embrace. Russia insists that Ukraine’s Western patrons accept that Ukraine will become a neutral country, along the guidelines of the informal post-World War II agreements that kept Finland in Moscow’s loose embrace. The Russians have also, officially, claimed to have had no role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Some Western countries seem to have accepted this arrangement, which Finns point out was never really one of their choosing.
The Russians have also, officially, claimed to have had no role in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Some Western countries seem to have accepted this arrangement, which Finns point out was never really one of their choosing.
Germany’s foreign minister said, for example, that North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership for Ukraine was off the agenda.Germany’s foreign minister said, for example, that North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership for Ukraine was off the agenda.
And yet some Ukrainians argue that no elected Ukrainian government could accept such a deal and that Ukraine might more easily simply part with the area now occupied by pro-Russian separatists, a zone of industrial blight and a subsidized coal industry.And yet some Ukrainians argue that no elected Ukrainian government could accept such a deal and that Ukraine might more easily simply part with the area now occupied by pro-Russian separatists, a zone of industrial blight and a subsidized coal industry.
The government cut off banking services, halted payments of pensions and told businesses to relocate. The Ukrainian Army is digging trenches and laying barbed wire on defensible high ground to the west.The government cut off banking services, halted payments of pensions and told businesses to relocate. The Ukrainian Army is digging trenches and laying barbed wire on defensible high ground to the west.
Yet the continual, low-level fighting along the front line always threatens to set off a wider conflict in Ukraine, complicating any policy of simply cutting off the occupied areas, rather than abandoning ambitions to join the European Union, the cause that ushered in the new government in Kiev last winter.Yet the continual, low-level fighting along the front line always threatens to set off a wider conflict in Ukraine, complicating any policy of simply cutting off the occupied areas, rather than abandoning ambitions to join the European Union, the cause that ushered in the new government in Kiev last winter.
Russia has objected to Ukraine’s policy of halting public sector payments and financial services in the occupied areas, given the unstated implication that Russia should pick up those bills now, however weak its own economy. Russia has faulted Ukraine’s policy of halting public sector payments and financial services in the occupied areas, given the unstated implication that Russia should pick up those bills now, however weak its own economy.
Surprisingly, so have separatist officials, who call the Ukrainian approach a policy of “economic blockade.”Surprisingly, so have separatist officials, who call the Ukrainian approach a policy of “economic blockade.”
The delay in talks came as the Luhansk and Donetsk groups, which call themselves people’s republics, declined to attend the talks on Tuesday unless lifting the “economic blockade” was included as a condition of the cease-fire. Luhansk officials asked that the negotiations be rescheduled for Friday. The delay in talks came as the Luhansk and Donetsk groups, which call themselves people’s republics, declined to attend the talks on Tuesday unless lifting the economic blockade was included as a condition of the cease-fire. Luhansk officials asked that the negotiations be rescheduled for Friday.
In a positive sign, Russia and Ukraine resumed trading Tuesday in the politically hued natural gas market. Ukraine imported Russian gas for the first time since spring, under terms negotiated with European mediation.In a positive sign, Russia and Ukraine resumed trading Tuesday in the politically hued natural gas market. Ukraine imported Russian gas for the first time since spring, under terms negotiated with European mediation.
In the east, artillery shells fell overnight into the snowy Kuibyshev district of the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, but then halted in the morning, Russian television reported, while on the Ukrainian side, six soldiers died in the 24 hours before the silent day began, the Ukrainian military said.In the east, artillery shells fell overnight into the snowy Kuibyshev district of the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, but then halted in the morning, Russian television reported, while on the Ukrainian side, six soldiers died in the 24 hours before the silent day began, the Ukrainian military said.