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| Ukraine unveils plans for ceasefire | Ukraine unveils plans for ceasefire |
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| Ukraine's president has announced plans for a unilateral ceasefire as part of a "peace plan" designed to end fighting in the east of the country. | Ukraine's president has announced plans for a unilateral ceasefire as part of a "peace plan" designed to end fighting in the east of the country. |
| The announcement came not long after Petro Poroshenko spoke by telephone to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, raising hopes that the latest attempt to solve the crisis might win the support of the Kremlin. | |
| "The plan will begin with my order for a unilateral ceasefire," said Poroshenko, speaking at a military academy in Kiev. "I can say that the period of the ceasefire will be rather short. We anticipate that immediately after this the disarming of the illegal military formations will take place." | |
| There were also reports on Wednesday that Poroshenko plans to replace a number of key ministers, including the foreign minister. | |
| Andriy Deshchytsia, the current acting minister, achieved notoriety over the weekend after being caught on camera calling Putin a "dickhead". Russia's foreign ministry said it would never speak to Deshchytsia again after the incident. | Andriy Deshchytsia, the current acting minister, achieved notoriety over the weekend after being caught on camera calling Putin a "dickhead". Russia's foreign ministry said it would never speak to Deshchytsia again after the incident. |
| Ukraine's defence minister, Mikhail Koval, said the ceasefire could begin in a matter of days. | Ukraine's defence minister, Mikhail Koval, said the ceasefire could begin in a matter of days. |
| Fighting has continued in the east, with two Russian journalists the latest casualties as the Ukrainian army shelled separatist fighters on Tuesday. More than 300 people are believed to have died since the fighting began. | Fighting has continued in the east, with two Russian journalists the latest casualties as the Ukrainian army shelled separatist fighters on Tuesday. More than 300 people are believed to have died since the fighting began. |
| Poroshenko spoke to Putin late on Tuesday, and the conversation "touched on the theme of a possible ceasefire", the Kremlin said. The Ukrainian president also discussed the plan with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor. | |
| The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that the ceasefire should be permanent. He did, however, say that if negotiations followed it could be "the step President Poroshenko has promised and which in general we were all waiting for". | The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that the ceasefire should be permanent. He did, however, say that if negotiations followed it could be "the step President Poroshenko has promised and which in general we were all waiting for". |
| It is unclear how the separatists will react to such an offer. Armed groups have occupied a number of government buildings and declared quasi-independent statelets. There is the prospect of an intensified Ukrainian assault on any remaining fighters after the ceasefire expires. | It is unclear how the separatists will react to such an offer. Armed groups have occupied a number of government buildings and declared quasi-independent statelets. There is the prospect of an intensified Ukrainian assault on any remaining fighters after the ceasefire expires. |
| Kiev has blamed Russia for arming and directing the rebels in the east, and Poroshenko said on Wednesday that Ukraine was caught up in a "new type of war". | |
| "This is war … using professional diversionary groups, mercenaries, volunteers and the local population. The volunteers and the local populations have been brainwashed by the information war." | "This is war … using professional diversionary groups, mercenaries, volunteers and the local population. The volunteers and the local populations have been brainwashed by the information war." |
| The office of the UN high commissioner for human rights released an important report on Ukraine on Wednesday, and the high commissioner, Navi Pillay, said the armed separatists in the east should put down their arms, accusing them of drawing themselves and the local population into a "dead end, which is leading simply to misery, destruction, displacement and economic deprivation". | |
| She also told the Ukrainian government to "exercise restraint, ensure that security operations are in line with international standards at all times, and take great care to protect civilians when engaging with armed groups". | She also told the Ukrainian government to "exercise restraint, ensure that security operations are in line with international standards at all times, and take great care to protect civilians when engaging with armed groups". |
| Also on Wednesday, Russia's investigative committee said it was investigating Ukraine's interior minister and a billionaire regional governor on suspicion of criminal acts as part of the military operation in the east. | Also on Wednesday, Russia's investigative committee said it was investigating Ukraine's interior minister and a billionaire regional governor on suspicion of criminal acts as part of the military operation in the east. |
| Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the committee, said in a statement that Arsen Avakov and Ihor Kolomoisky were "literally drowning the country in the blood of its own people" and said they were being investigated on a range of charges. It was unclear how a Russian body has the jurisdiction to investigate the alleged crimes. | Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the committee, said in a statement that Arsen Avakov and Ihor Kolomoisky were "literally drowning the country in the blood of its own people" and said they were being investigated on a range of charges. It was unclear how a Russian body has the jurisdiction to investigate the alleged crimes. |