Updated 3:15 p.m. Moscow Time
KIEV, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - As discussions have focused on the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council spokesperson Andrei Lysenko elaborated on he withdrawal of Ukrainian law enforcement 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the line of contact in the east of Ukraine at a press conference Sunday.
"The fact is that one of the main points is the maintenance of the ceasefire, and then other points follow. So far, the first point (the ceasefire) is not implemented while we have not had talks on the other points," he said.
Lysenko added that if there is a withdrawal of forces it should be synchronized.
On September 19, representatives from Russia, Ukraine, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) met in Minsk resulting in the formulation of a memorandum outlining nine provisions to regulate the implementation of a ceasefire between Kiev and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine.
While the first point of the memorandum states the implementation of a bilateral ceasefire, other points include the removal of weapons with a caliber of more than 100 mm within 15 kilometers of the contact line on both sides, including residential areas, establishing a 30-kilometer buffer zone. Placement of mine barriers at the border of the buffer zone is also prohibited while mine barriers placed prior to the agreement in the buffer zone shall be removed.
The ceasefire zone will be divided into sectors, the borders of which have not yet been decided. All foreign armed groups, military equipment, as well as fighters and mercenaries shall withdraw from the Ukrainian territory under the supervision of the OSCE.
