Another peace in Donbas

From today, the decision on a ceasefire in the southeast of Ukraine comes into force, adopted on the results of the meeting of the Contact Group in Minsk last week.

The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, ordered firing to stop in the conflict zone in the Donbas in accordance with the Minsk agreements.

"I am now ordering the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the Interior Ministry, the Border Guard Service and the security services to cease fire," he is quoted by TASS.

He also ordered the representative of Ukraine in the center of the joint monitoring and coordination of the ceasefire, Alexander Rozmazninu, to "ensure effective monitoring of the compliance regime on shooting in certain sectors."

The Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine, Victor Muzhenko, reported on the implementation of the ceasefire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande yesterday in a telephone conversation emphasized the importance of strict compliance with all the provisions of the conflicting parties adopted on February 12 in Minsk by the Contact Group of measures aimed at a peaceful settlement of the situation in southeastern Ukraine.It noticed that a forthcoming telephone conversation will take place in the "Normandy Format" between Putin, Hollande, Merkel and Poroshenko.

In addition, a conversation between US President Barack Obama and Poroshenko took place, they discussed the establishment of a truce in the southeast of the country.Obama expressed his condolences in connection with the growing number of victims of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and concern at "the continuing violence, especially in and around Debaltsevo."

The Presidents stressed the need for a ceasefire, as well as the protocol agreements reached last September and confirmed in Minsk this week.Negotiations are continuing on a draft resolution of the Russian Federation in support of the agreement on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine by the members of the UN Security Council.

It is expected that the UN Security Council might adopt two resolutions - on Ukraine and on the situation in Yemen, where there is a sharp political crisis.

Recall that the ceasefire between the Ukrainian security forces and militia in the east was agreed at the meetings in Minsk and came into effect at 01:00 MSK today.