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| Leaders reach cease-fire deal in Ukraine | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW —European leaders announced Thursday that a cease-fire deal beginning Sunday had been agreed for eastern Ukraine and that the warring sides had committed to pulling back heavy weaponry from the front line, although powerful disagreements remain over the grinding conflict. | MOSCOW —European leaders announced Thursday that a cease-fire deal beginning Sunday had been agreed for eastern Ukraine and that the warring sides had committed to pulling back heavy weaponry from the front line, although powerful disagreements remain over the grinding conflict. |
| After more than 15 hours of non-stop overnight negotiations in Belarus, Minsk, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France broke without signing a more comprehensive peace agreement, however — a sign of the difficulty of the negotiations. That raised questions about the durability of any deal. | After more than 15 hours of non-stop overnight negotiations in Belarus, Minsk, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France broke without signing a more comprehensive peace agreement, however — a sign of the difficulty of the negotiations. That raised questions about the durability of any deal. |
| “We have agreed on many things,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in the marble-clad Palace of Independence in Minsk, where the leaders had convened. “We should avoid unnecessary bloodshed while withdrawing heavy weaponry.” | “We have agreed on many things,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in the marble-clad Palace of Independence in Minsk, where the leaders had convened. “We should avoid unnecessary bloodshed while withdrawing heavy weaponry.” |
| Putin said that the deal reached Thursday included the cease-fire, a promise that Ukraine would implement constitutional reforms to give rebel-held territories more autonomy, and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the front lines of the conflict – key steps that should calm violence that has spiked in recent weeks to levels not seen since last summer. | Putin said that the deal reached Thursday included the cease-fire, a promise that Ukraine would implement constitutional reforms to give rebel-held territories more autonomy, and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the front lines of the conflict – key steps that should calm violence that has spiked in recent weeks to levels not seen since last summer. |
| The 10-month-old conflict has evolved into the bloodiest on European soil since the Balkan wars of the 1990s. At least 5,400 people have been killed, according to U.N. estimates, and more than a million people have been pushed from their homes. | The 10-month-old conflict has evolved into the bloodiest on European soil since the Balkan wars of the 1990s. At least 5,400 people have been killed, according to U.N. estimates, and more than a million people have been pushed from their homes. |
| The agreement “gives us great hope,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the meeting ended, although she said there was still extensive work to be done to achieve peace. | The agreement “gives us great hope,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the meeting ended, although she said there was still extensive work to be done to achieve peace. |
| “We were presented with various unacceptable conditions of withdrawal and surrender,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told reporters after the talks, according to the Associated Press. “We did not agree to any ultimatums and stated firmly that the cease-fire that is announced is unconditional.” | “We were presented with various unacceptable conditions of withdrawal and surrender,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told reporters after the talks, according to the Associated Press. “We did not agree to any ultimatums and stated firmly that the cease-fire that is announced is unconditional.” |
| Other aspects of the 13-point deal, such as a pardon by the Ukrainian government for those involved in the fighting, could be politically difficult for Poroshenko to implement in practice, since many of those who support the government see the rebels as being responsible for sparking the violence. | Other aspects of the 13-point deal, such as a pardon by the Ukrainian government for those involved in the fighting, could be politically difficult for Poroshenko to implement in practice, since many of those who support the government see the rebels as being responsible for sparking the violence. |
| A new constitution with new powers for Ukraine’s regions will require broad support from lawmakers in Kiev that is sure to be difficult to win. And a commitment to disband “all illegal groups,” meanwhile, may be difficult for rebel leaders to put into place, and they may not want to. | A new constitution with new powers for Ukraine’s regions will require broad support from lawmakers in Kiev that is sure to be difficult to win. And a commitment to disband “all illegal groups,” meanwhile, may be difficult for rebel leaders to put into place, and they may not want to. |
| Rebel leaders in Minsk said after the announcement that they were happy about the outcome of the talks. | Rebel leaders in Minsk said after the announcement that they were happy about the outcome of the talks. |
| “This is a major achievement,” said one rebel leader, Igor Plotnitsky. “It will help Ukraine to transform itself, to transform in a civilized manner and to stop killing its own people.” | “This is a major achievement,” said one rebel leader, Igor Plotnitsky. “It will help Ukraine to transform itself, to transform in a civilized manner and to stop killing its own people.” |
| The binding agreement was signed by lower-level representatives from the Ukrainian and Russian governments, along with the two top rebel leaders and a delegate from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is charged with monitoring the cease-fire. | The binding agreement was signed by lower-level representatives from the Ukrainian and Russian governments, along with the two top rebel leaders and a delegate from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is charged with monitoring the cease-fire. |
| But the national leaders themselves did not sign any such deal, only a non-binding statement of support for peace. That suggested they were not willing to commit fully that the deal would be successful. | But the national leaders themselves did not sign any such deal, only a non-binding statement of support for peace. That suggested they were not willing to commit fully that the deal would be successful. |
| Under the deal, Ukraine also agreed to end an economic blockade of rebel-held territories that has cut off pensions, banking services and the movement of goods and people, a key rebel demand. | Under the deal, Ukraine also agreed to end an economic blockade of rebel-held territories that has cut off pensions, banking services and the movement of goods and people, a key rebel demand. |
| Poroshenko said the deal envisaged his nation’s regaining full control of its border by the end of 2015 and that all foreign fighters would be required to leave Ukrainian territory. | Poroshenko said the deal envisaged his nation’s regaining full control of its border by the end of 2015 and that all foreign fighters would be required to leave Ukrainian territory. |
| Ukraine and its Western allies have said that Russia is fueling the conflict by sending in weapons and troops. But Russia has denied doing so, calling into question how those terms of the agreement would be implemented on the ground. | Ukraine and its Western allies have said that Russia is fueling the conflict by sending in weapons and troops. But Russia has denied doing so, calling into question how those terms of the agreement would be implemented on the ground. |
| Poroshenko also said that Russia had agreed to release imprisoned Ukrainian helicopter navigator Nadia Savchenko, who has been in Russian custody since last summer and has become a Ukrainian symbol of resistance to the Kremlin and the rebels. | Poroshenko also said that Russia had agreed to release imprisoned Ukrainian helicopter navigator Nadia Savchenko, who has been in Russian custody since last summer and has become a Ukrainian symbol of resistance to the Kremlin and the rebels. |
| The fundamentals of the deal appeared to be largely the same as a tattered September cease-fire agreement that was never fully observed and in the last month has fallen apart completely. Since then, thousands more people have died and rebels have captured hundreds of square miles of additional territory. | The fundamentals of the deal appeared to be largely the same as a tattered September cease-fire agreement that was never fully observed and in the last month has fallen apart completely. Since then, thousands more people have died and rebels have captured hundreds of square miles of additional territory. |
| Those battlefield changes mean that it is tricky for the sides to agree on a dividing line for the conflict. Putin said that Ukraine agreed to pull back from current battle lines, while rebels would pull back further, into a buffer zone behind the lines in September. Each side would pull back at least 30 miles. | Those battlefield changes mean that it is tricky for the sides to agree on a dividing line for the conflict. Putin said that Ukraine agreed to pull back from current battle lines, while rebels would pull back further, into a buffer zone behind the lines in September. Each side would pull back at least 30 miles. |
| Meanwhile, Ukraine reached a preliminary accord to expand an International Monetary Fund-led bailout to $40 billion to avert a default. The conflict has battered the Ukrainian economy and drained resources. | Meanwhile, Ukraine reached a preliminary accord to expand an International Monetary Fund-led bailout to $40 billion to avert a default. The conflict has battered the Ukrainian economy and drained resources. |
| An IMF team, which has been in the Ukrainian capital Kiev since January 8, will recommend that the IMF board sign off on the bail-out deal, Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Thursday in Brussels. | An IMF team, which has been in the Ukrainian capital Kiev since January 8, will recommend that the IMF board sign off on the bail-out deal, Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Thursday in Brussels. |
| “It’s an ambitious program, it’s a tough program and it’s not without risk,” Lagarde told reporters. “But it’s also realistic.” | “It’s an ambitious program, it’s a tough program and it’s not without risk,” Lagarde told reporters. “But it’s also realistic.” |
| Despite the deal announcement, there appeared to still be differences about whether Ukrainian troops should give up the rebel-encircled town of Debaltseve, to what extent the Ukrainian government would recognize rebel authorities and the precise territory to be given autonomy. | Despite the deal announcement, there appeared to still be differences about whether Ukrainian troops should give up the rebel-encircled town of Debaltseve, to what extent the Ukrainian government would recognize rebel authorities and the precise territory to be given autonomy. |
| Putin said that rebels believe that between 6,000 and 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers are encircled at Debaltseve and have called for them to surrender. Ukraine denies that they are surrounded and has resisted giving up the transportation hub, which sits on the main highway between the two biggest rebel-held cities. | Putin said that rebels believe that between 6,000 and 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers are encircled at Debaltseve and have called for them to surrender. Ukraine denies that they are surrounded and has resisted giving up the transportation hub, which sits on the main highway between the two biggest rebel-held cities. |
| The outcome of the high-level summit could decide if a shaky peace takes hold there or a much wider war breaks out. The U.S. and some European allies could potentially supply arms to Ukraine in the conflict. | The outcome of the high-level summit could decide if a shaky peace takes hold there or a much wider war breaks out. The U.S. and some European allies could potentially supply arms to Ukraine in the conflict. |
| Negotiations in Minsk went through the night between Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and French President Francois Hollande amid some of the heaviest fighting to date in eastern Ukraine. Top officials described the extraordinary summit as the final chance to avert an even harsher escalation. | Negotiations in Minsk went through the night between Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and French President Francois Hollande amid some of the heaviest fighting to date in eastern Ukraine. Top officials described the extraordinary summit as the final chance to avert an even harsher escalation. |
| But the extraordinary length of the talks was a sign of the intractable differences between the sides. It remains unclear whether the deal can be implemented on the ground. | But the extraordinary length of the talks was a sign of the intractable differences between the sides. It remains unclear whether the deal can be implemented on the ground. |
| Poroshenko told his cabinet that he was poised to declare martial law if the talks failed. | Poroshenko told his cabinet that he was poised to declare martial law if the talks failed. |
| Leaders have said they were working from the outlines of a September cease-fire deal that was never fully implemented and that evaporated completely in recent weeks. | Leaders have said they were working from the outlines of a September cease-fire deal that was never fully implemented and that evaporated completely in recent weeks. |
| Rebel-held territories have demanded deep autonomy from the Ukrainian central government in Kiev. Points of contention included what form of autonomy and how to define the borders of rebel-held territory, as the battle lines have moved sharply since last summer. | Rebel-held territories have demanded deep autonomy from the Ukrainian central government in Kiev. Points of contention included what form of autonomy and how to define the borders of rebel-held territory, as the battle lines have moved sharply since last summer. |
| Kiev has also demanded that Russia stop the cross-border flow of weapons and fighters into Ukraine. | Kiev has also demanded that Russia stop the cross-border flow of weapons and fighters into Ukraine. |
| The conflict has brought relations between Russia and the West to lows not seen since the Cold War. Within Ukraine, Poroshenko has been forced to give up dreams of leading a unified nation under the full control of Kiev. He has set up hard internal borders and cut off people, goods and money flowing betweenKiev-held and rebel-held territories. | The conflict has brought relations between Russia and the West to lows not seen since the Cold War. Within Ukraine, Poroshenko has been forced to give up dreams of leading a unified nation under the full control of Kiev. He has set up hard internal borders and cut off people, goods and money flowing betweenKiev-held and rebel-held territories. |
| Russia wants guarantees that Ukraine will not tilt westward and join alliances such as NATO. Putin said fears of that possibility drove his annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula last March, a decision that set off the new conflict between Russia and the West. | Russia wants guarantees that Ukraine will not tilt westward and join alliances such as NATO. Putin said fears of that possibility drove his annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula last March, a decision that set off the new conflict between Russia and the West. |
| Anger in the West toward Russia has grown since the fighting reignited last month, and the White House has been considering whether to send arms to the Ukrainian military. That would bolster Ukraine’s chances against an opponent that the West says is supplied by Russia — but it would also run the risk of triggering a fierce proxy war with the Kremlin on Ukrainian soil. | Anger in the West toward Russia has grown since the fighting reignited last month, and the White House has been considering whether to send arms to the Ukrainian military. That would bolster Ukraine’s chances against an opponent that the West says is supplied by Russia — but it would also run the risk of triggering a fierce proxy war with the Kremlin on Ukrainian soil. |
| Merkel and Hollande have said they are against arming Ukraine, and they flew last week on a surprise mission to Moscow in an attempt to jump-start the peace talks. | Merkel and Hollande have said they are against arming Ukraine, and they flew last week on a surprise mission to Moscow in an attempt to jump-start the peace talks. |
| Earlier this week, President Obama called Putin to warn that if he did not stop supporting the rebels and come to terms on a peace deal, “the costs for Russia will rise.” Obama said separately that his decision about arming Ukraine would depend in part on the outcome of the talks. | Earlier this week, President Obama called Putin to warn that if he did not stop supporting the rebels and come to terms on a peace deal, “the costs for Russia will rise.” Obama said separately that his decision about arming Ukraine would depend in part on the outcome of the talks. |
| Daniela Deane contributed to this report from London; Stephanie Kirchner from Berlin. | Daniela Deane contributed to this report from London; Stephanie Kirchner from Berlin. |