MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he would do everything possible to establish a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
“We will do everything possible in order to establish a ceasefire. Soldiers lose their lives, innocent civilians die. I, as President, will do everything possible,” Poroshenko said during press conference at the NATO summit in Wales.
Poroshenko added that he pins hopes on the upcoming contact group meeting in Minsk that will be held on September 5.
On Thursday, in the course of the NATO summit, Poroshenko had a meeting with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski.
During the meeting, Poroshenko stated that a document that provided for the stages of the implementation of the peace plan could be signed during the upcoming contact group consultations in Minsk.
According to Poroshenko’s official website, Ukrainian leader expressed hope that the actual implementation of the peace plan will begin on Friday.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a seven-point plan for the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, calling on Kiev to withdraw troops from southeastern regions of the country and militia to cease military advances. The plan also includes proposals for an international monitoring force, the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, a ban on the use of combat aircraft over urban areas, an exchange of prisoners in an “all for all” formula and direct repair-crew access to destroyed infrastructure in the war-ravaged areas.
Southeastern regions of Ukraine have been under fire since mid-April, when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new Kiev government that came to power after a February coup.
The conflict has already claimed more than 2,500 lives, according to the UN statistics.
