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| Poroshenko Proposes Unilateral Cease-Fire in Eastern Ukraine | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MOSCOW — Ukrainian President Petro O. Poroshenko proposed on Wednesday a unilateral cease-fire by government troops as a step in ending a conflict with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, according to the Interfax news agency. | |
| The step follows a phone call late Tuesday night between Mr. Poroshenko and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in which a potential cease-fire was discussed. | |
| Interfax quoted Mr. Poroshenko as saying that a unilateral cessation of hositilities would be the first stage in the plan to end the conflict. | |
| “The plan will begin with my order for a unilateral cease-fire,” Mr. Poroshenko said, according to Interfax. He added that “shortly afterward the plan will receive support from the other participants.” | |
| The Kremlin, in a statement early Wednesday after the two leaders spoke by telephone, said, “The heads of state discussed current bilateral relations issues. They touched on the topic of a possible cease-fire in areas of southeastern Ukraine engaged in hostilities.” There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on Mr. Poroshenko’s cease-fire plan. | |
| Russia has insisted that it does not control or speak for the pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, but senior Russian officials, including the foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, have insisted that the Ukrainian government must stop its military crackdown in the east and also expressed confidence that rebels would then put down their arms. | Russia has insisted that it does not control or speak for the pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, but senior Russian officials, including the foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, have insisted that the Ukrainian government must stop its military crackdown in the east and also expressed confidence that rebels would then put down their arms. |
| Previous agreements between Russia and the West calling for a peaceful settlement in eastern Ukraine have brought no results. | Previous agreements between Russia and the West calling for a peaceful settlement in eastern Ukraine have brought no results. |
| The Ukrainian government did not immediately comment on the phone call with Mr. Putin. | The Ukrainian government did not immediately comment on the phone call with Mr. Putin. |
| Mr. Poroshenko, who was inaugurated earlier this month, has said he will not negotiate with armed “terrorists” in eastern Ukraine but has offered to engage in dialogue with residents of the region to hear their concerns. | Mr. Poroshenko, who was inaugurated earlier this month, has said he will not negotiate with armed “terrorists” in eastern Ukraine but has offered to engage in dialogue with residents of the region to hear their concerns. |
| The Kremlin, in its statement, said Mr. Putin had also conveyed unhappiness over the deaths of two members of a Russian television news crew who were killed in eastern Ukraine. | The Kremlin, in its statement, said Mr. Putin had also conveyed unhappiness over the deaths of two members of a Russian television news crew who were killed in eastern Ukraine. |
| “Vladimir Putin expressed concern regarding the tragic death of Russian journalists in Luhansk and highlighted the need for an absolute assurance of security for members of the media working in Ukraine’s conflict zones,” the statement said. | “Vladimir Putin expressed concern regarding the tragic death of Russian journalists in Luhansk and highlighted the need for an absolute assurance of security for members of the media working in Ukraine’s conflict zones,” the statement said. |
| The Kremlin added, “Petro Poroshenko expressed his condolences regarding the death of Russian media representatives and assured the President of Russia that corresponding investigations will be carried out on his instructions and necessary measures will be taken to ensure safety for journalists.” | The Kremlin added, “Petro Poroshenko expressed his condolences regarding the death of Russian media representatives and assured the President of Russia that corresponding investigations will be carried out on his instructions and necessary measures will be taken to ensure safety for journalists.” |
| Separately, a Russian natural gas company executive said the flow of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine was unaffected by an explosion on a Ukrainian pipeline on Tuesday, Reuters reported. | Separately, a Russian natural gas company executive said the flow of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine was unaffected by an explosion on a Ukrainian pipeline on Tuesday, Reuters reported. |
| Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on Monday after negotiations over Ukraine’s gas payments fell apart. The Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, which was hit by the blast, is the main transit route for Russian gas to the European Union via Ukraine. | Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on Monday after negotiations over Ukraine’s gas payments fell apart. The Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, which was hit by the blast, is the main transit route for Russian gas to the European Union via Ukraine. |
| Ukraine said on Tuesday that it was treating the explosion as a possible “act of terrorism.” | Ukraine said on Tuesday that it was treating the explosion as a possible “act of terrorism.” |