New Cease-Fire For Ukraine
February 12, 2015
![Credit: AP Photo](http://bth.worldbook.com/bth/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/pc369735-300x219.jpg)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (from left to right) take a break from their work at peace talks held in Minsk, Belarus, on February 11, 2015. (Credit: AP Photo)
Peace talks in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, began yesterday. The talks lasted 17 hours and yielded a cease-fire agreement early today. Four leaders—German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and Russian President Vladimir Putin—signed an agreement for a cease-fire to begin on February 15.
Since fighting began in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, more than 5,000 people have died. This is the second cease-fire negotiated in the attempt to halt fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government forces. A peace agreement signed in September 2014 was violated almost as soon as it was signed.
The peace agreement signed today calls for:
- Heavy weapons being pulled back by both parties to create a buffer zone of at least 31 miles (50 kilometers)
- An amnesty for fighters from both sides
- An exchange of any prisoners or hostages being held by either side
- Restoration of full border control to the government of Ukraine once local elections are held in eastern Ukraine
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is charged with monitoring that both sides adhere to the terms of the agreement.
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