MINSK, September 5 (RIA Novosti) – Under the ceasefire deal signed in Minsk Friday, the self-defense forces and the Kiev government troops will remain at positions they held when the ceasefire began, a source familiar with the document told RIA Novosti.
“The protocol envisages that the sides will remain at positions they held at the moment when the ceasefire began,” the source said.
“The sides will control the ceasefire compliance themselves. The OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] will carry out general monitoring of the situation. They are unable to control the whole ceasefire process,” he went on.
“Also, one of the protocol’s main provisions envisages a prisoner swap under the “all for all” scheme,” the source added.
A spokesman for the Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council confirmed that the country’s troops will not be redeployed during the ceasefire.
“So far, the positions of troops – at least, those held by the Ukrainian forces – will remain unchanged,” Andriy Lysenko said.
Participants of the Contact Group in Minsk signed a protocol envisaging a ceasefire and the release of prisoners earlier in the day. They are also preparing a memorandum on the Ukrainian crisis settlement.
The truce agreement came into force at 6 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT). OSCE representative Heidi Tagliavini confirmed that the ceasefire deal was signed and welcomed the move.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on both the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the OSCE to provide international monitoring of compliance with the bilateral ceasefire.
Friday’s talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk involved representatives from Kiev government, Ukrainian southeastern regions, Russia and the OSCE.
