Russia and Ukraine have agreed to reinstate the comprehensive ceasefire in eastern Ukraine in 2020 for the Donbas region.
Andriy Yermak, one of the top advisers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski, said that the agreement reached through the mediation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is an important step to reduce tensions in the region.
After the latest developments, a senior Ukrainian official said, “We wish the next Christmas period to be peaceful and without tension.”
Ukraine and Western countries claimed that Russia had massed 100,000 soldiers on the border.
“Dialogue between countries**, essential to prevent a serious crisis”**
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that if the West’s aggressive approach to the problem continues, they will “take the necessary technical military measures”. Putin today demanded that NATO cease its military activities in Eastern Europe and guarantee that it will not approve of Ukraine joining the Western alliance.
Russia denies accusations of attempting to invade Ukraine.
But Russia will hold military exercises on the Ukrainian border today and tomorrow.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he had a positive view of the meeting with the Russian authorities next month, but that Ukraine’s alliance membership was a decision for NATO and Kiev to make.
“Our talks with Russia must respect Europe’s security principles,” Stoltenberg said.
ceasefire violations in the Donbas region
The Ukrainian army has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in most of the Donbas region in the east of the country since 2014.
14 thousand people lost their lives in the conflicts that lasted for 7 years.
Although the war ended in 2015, clashes continued until the ceasefire in July 2020.
Ceasefire violations in the region have recently started to increase again.
Ukraine accused Russia of sending 122 thousand soldiers within 200 kilometers of the country’s borders and claimed that another 143 thousand soldiers were waiting 400 kilometers from the border.