On peaceful settlement of the situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine

In the inaugural speech on 7 June 2014, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stressed that he was assuming office in order to preserve the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Ukraine, to ensure sustainable peace and to guarantee security for all citizens.

President Poroshenko’s plan for a peaceful settlement of the situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine is based on three pillars:
– Release from criminal responsibility for those who surrendered weapons, did not commit grave crimes against the Ukrainian military and civilians and were not involved in illegal activities for financing terrorism
– Establishment of a controlled corridor for the retreat of Russian mercenaries
– The launch of an inclusive dialogue with peaceful citizens.

Subsequently, more details of the above plan were provided as follows:

1. Security guarantees for all those involved in the negotiations.

2. Release from criminal responsibility for those who surrendered weapons and did not commit grave crimes.

3. Release of all hostages.

4. Setting up of a 10-km buffer zone at the Ukrainian-Russian border and the withdrawal of illegal troops and heavy weaponry.

5. Guaranteed corridor for the retreat of Russian and Ukrainian mercenaries.

6. Disarmament of illegally armed groups.

7. Establishment of joint patrol units in the structure of the Ministry of the Interior.

8. Vacation of illegally seized official buildings in the Donetsk and Lubansk regions.

9. Renewal of work of the local authorities.

10. Renewal of central television and radio broadcasting in the Donetsk and Lubansk regions.

11. Decentralization of power (through direct elections of local executive committees; protection of the Russian language; and draft amendments to the Constitution).

12. Before the system for elections of local authorities is introduced and takes effect, agreement on the candidatures for the posts of governors with
representatives of the Donbas region (if there is no agreed position on the nominees, the decision is made by the President of Ukraine).

13. Early local and parliamentary elections.

14. Programme for the creation of new jobs in the region.

15. Restoration of industrial and social infrastructure.

The technical issues regarding implementation of the peace plan are being
discussed within the framework of the trilateral contact group comprising representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

According to the agreed common vision, the plan will go through several consecutive stages of implementation.

The first stage will cover the cessation of the use of force for a short limited period of time by counter-terrorism forces and illegally armed groups. The counter- terrorism forces will resume activities only in the case of armed violence.

Within this period, the wide range of issues covering the cessation of use of force and the launch of the peaceful settlement process will be discussed.

The second stage will cover the negotiation process itself.