Eastern Ukraine: Ceasefire agreement reached for Christmas and New Year

(Baonghean.vn) - On December 22, the Ukrainian army and separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine reached a ceasefire agreement to celebrate the New Year and Christmas. This agreement took effect from the evening of December 22.

Since the conflict in eastern Ukraine began, the United Nations estimates that more than 9,000 people - mostly civilians - have been killed. Photo AP

According to Ms. Darka Olifer - Negotiation Advisor to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, an unconditional ceasefire was agreed upon by all parties in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and took effect from midnight on December 22 to early morning on December 23.

This initiative is really necessary to ensure that civilians living in the separatist areas can celebrate Christmas and New Year in peace, Ms. Darka Olifer explained.

According to a representative of Lugansk province, a separatist region of Ukraine, the ceasefire agreement was necessary because "Kiev's side has repeatedly committed acts of aggression" against the ceasefire reached by the parties in September, which was only valid in theory.

The ceasefire agreed in September required both sides to stop firing artillery and rockets along a 30-kilometer buffer zone between the two sides’ territories. However, the ceasefire has been threatened by fresh clashes that erupted last week, with both sides blaming each other.

According to the representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine, the two sides have agreed to a ceasefire to welcome the New Year, limiting the movement of troops and tanks within about 500km from the front line.

Since the conflict in eastern Ukraine began, the United Nations estimates that more than 9,000 people - mostly civilians - have been killed. Therefore, when commenting on the above information, Mr. Martin Sajdik - President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) "expects and hopes that the people of eastern Ukraine can enjoy the New Year and Christmas period in peace and hope that this situation will be maintained in the future".

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)