World Desk, AnyTV, New Delhi
Published by: Gaurav Pandey
Updated Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:20 PM IST
Summary
Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula, fueled a separatist war in Ukraine’s Donbass region and now declared the region’s Donetsk and Luhansk as independent countries.
hear the news
hear the news
Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists agreed to a 12-point ceasefire agreement in 2014 in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Its provisions included prisoner transfers, providing humanitarian aid and the return of heavy weapons. But this agreement was soon seen to be violated by both the parties.
Second agreement signed next year
After this, in February 2015, representatives of Russia, the Ukraine Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE) and leaders of two Russian-backed separatist regions met. A 13-point agreement was signed here. Simultaneously, leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine gathered in Minsk to announce cooperation for the agreement.
It laid down military and political steps that have not yet been implemented. A major impediment to this has been Russia’s position that it is not a party to the conflict and therefore not bound by conditions. For example, point 10 of the agreement calls for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the disputed regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
These are the 13 points of the Minsk Agreement
- An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
- Heavy weapons withdrawal from both sides.
- Monitoring and confirmation from OSCE.
- Beginning of negotiations for interim self-government in the two regions and acceptance of their special status in accordance with Ukrainian law.
- Apologies to those involved in the fight.
- Exchange of hostages and prisoners.
- Provision for humanitarian aid.
- Restoration of socio-economic relations including pension.
- Restoration of full control of the state border by the Government of Ukraine.
- Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries.
- Constitutional reforms in Ukraine including decentralization with specific mention of Donetsk and Luhansk.
- Elections in Donetsk and Luhansk on condition of agreement with their representatives.
- To accelerate the work of the Trilateral Contact Group consisting of representatives of Russia, Ukraine and OSCE.
Expansion
Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists agreed to a 12-point ceasefire agreement in 2014 in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Its provisions included prisoner transfers, providing humanitarian aid and the return of heavy weapons. But this agreement was soon seen to be violated by both the parties.
Second agreement signed next year
After this, in February 2015, representatives of Russia, the Ukraine Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE) and leaders of two Russian-backed separatist regions met. A 13-point agreement was signed here. Simultaneously, leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine gathered in Minsk to announce cooperation for the agreement.
It laid down military and political steps that have not yet been implemented. A major impediment to this has been Russia’s position that it is not a party to the conflict and therefore not bound by conditions. For example, point 10 of the agreement calls for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the disputed regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.