Ukrainian media review on February 11, 2015

The negotiations in Minsk (that  continued thoughout the night and have just recently finished) are the main topic of discussion and point of concern today.  Dzerkalo tyzhnia weekly has published  a document with proposals by so-called “DPR/LPR”, whose representatives also arrived in Minsk.  These proposals include the number of requirements, among which are granting of regional autonomy, constitutional recognition of autonomy, amnesty for all bandits who are operating on the territory of Ukraine, as well as full financial support from Ukraine. Vladislav Surkov, advisor to President Putin, was also present in the Palace of Independence in Minsk and took part in the negotiations, as reported by Russian media. Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Germany informed the talks were “very hard.”

 

WAR. ACTIONS IN THE ATO ZONE.

Debaltseve area continues to be the hottest point of Ukraine. Terrorists unsuccessfully tried to attack the Ukrainian warriors positions near the village Novotroitske, and also twice – near Chernuhine, Kamyanka, and Debaltseve, according to the ATO press center. .  The city of Lugansk again was subjected to fire, presumably from the territoriesthat  are under occupation of the invaders.   Ukrainian troops were entrenched on Shyrokyne-Pavlopil line.  The number of victims of Kramatorsk fire attack has reached 17 people. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak has stated that there is no such this as Debaltseve entrap.”

On Wednesday, February 11 commander of the Joint Land Forces of NATO in Europe, US Gen. Ben Hodges said that the Russian military allegedly took direct part in the combat in Debaltseve area in Ukraine.

 

PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE CRISIS.

Poroshenko claimed that in case if the sides fail to set an agreement in Minsk, the situation in Donbas will be unpredictable (will go racing). Lavrov called the restoration of Ukraine control over the eastern border unrealistic.

Terms of the newly signed Minsk agreement include:

1. Immediate and complete ceasefire in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine to be strictly implemented starting from 00:00 on February 15.

2. Parallel withdrawal of all heavy weaponry of over 100mm caliber by both sides in order to create a 50km security zone. Multiple rocket launcher systems to be withdrawn to create a security zone of 70km. Tornado, Uragan and Smerch rocket systems and Tochka tactical rocket systems to be withdrawn to create a security zone of 140km. Ukrainian forces are to withdraw from the current line of contact. Militant forces are to withdraw from the demarcation line established by the 19 September 2014 Minsk memorandum.

Withdrawal of all heavy weaponry to begin not later than the second day following the ceasefire, and must be completed within 14 days. The OSCE monitoring mission will oversee this process of heavy weapons withdrawal with support from the trilateral contact group.

3. The OSCE monitoring mission should monitor and verify adherence to the ceasefire regime using all available tools including satellites and drones.

4. On the same day that the withdrawal of heavy weapons begins, a dialogue must start to prepare for local elections in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and Ukrainian laws on the temporary status of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Dialogue must also begin to address the future status of these regions.

Within 30 days of the signing of the declaration, Ukraine’s parliament must adopt a law identifying the territory which falls under the terms of the temporary status of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The territory should be based on the demarcation line established in the 19 September 2014 Minsk memorandum.

5. An amnesty must be introduced to prevent prosecution or punishment for those connected with events in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

6. All hostages and detainees to be released in prisoner exchanges based on the ‘all for all’ principle. This process must be completed on the fifth day following the complete withdrawal of heavy weaponry at the latest.

7. Access to humanitarian aid must be facilitated in line with international norms.

8. Steps must be taken to reintroduce social and economic support infrastructure in Luhansk and Donetsk regions including pensions, communal services and tax services within Ukrainian jurisdiction. In order to achieve this, Ukraine will resume banking system services in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

9. Control of the Ukrainian state border in the conflict zone must be returned to the Ukrainian government on the first day following local elections in the conflcit zone and following implementation of point 11 of the Minsk memorandum governing Ukrainian constitutional reform.

10. Withdrawal of all international armed units, military equipment and mercenary forces from the territory of Ukraine under the supervision of the OSCE monitoring mission. Disarming of all illegal units and armed groups.

11. Constitutional reforms must establish a new Ukrainian constitution by the end of 2015 which includes clauses allowing for the decentralization of power and recognizes the specific status of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in agreement with representatives of these regions. Legislation must also be adopted to reflect the special status of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of 2015.

12. Under the auspices of the Ukrainian law on the temporary status of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, all issues regarding local elections to be discussed and agreed together with representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk regions within the framework of the trilateral contact group (Ukraine, Russian and representatives of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics). Local elections to be carried out in line with OSCE standards and under the supervision of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

13. Increase the work of the trilateral contact group by establishing working groups to manage the implementation of each relevant point of the Minsk memorandum. These working groups will reflect the composition of the trilateral contact group.

Earlier, The Telegraph has published the statement of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said that there is a 70 percent chance of signing an agreement after negotiations in Minsk,

Fraction of European Conservatives and Reformists of the European Parliament advocate in favor of tougher economic sanctions against Russia in case Russian President Vladimir Putin

continues hisaggression in Ukraine.

 

FINANCIAL SITUATION.

Germany is coordinating consultations held between the countries of “Big Seven” and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding a new economic aid to Ukraine. The representative of the Ministry of Finance of Germany Martin Jaeger stated this today, reports Deutsche Welle.

The mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finished its work in Ukraine.stated    Prime Minister Yatsenyuk in his speech, published by the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers after the negotiations.

Defence of Ukrainian pilot, Member of Parliament of Ukraine Nadiya Savchenko applied to Russian Prosecutor General about illegal actions of the convoy during the trial.  Savchenko’s lawyer Nikolai Polozov informed about this in his Twitter.