The heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics have issued a statement on a unilateral ceasefire starting at 12 am on September 15, under which all people’s militia units in Donetsk and Lugansk are prohibited from responding to fire from the Ukrainian army and the National Guard.
We consider this to be a major practical step taken to strengthen the silence regime, which the conflicting parties announced before the beginning of the academic year on September 1, to stabilise the situation in the conflict zone and ultimately to bring about a peaceful settlement in south-eastern Ukraine in accordance with the Minsk Agreements.
Considering the intention to strengthen the ceasefire regime, which the Ukrainian representatives voiced at the September 13 videoconference of the Contact Group, we urge Kiev to respond to the Donetsk and Lugansk initiative accordingly, so that the ceasefire on the line of contact will become stable and lasting and a step towards peace and stability in the region.
We hope that our partners in the Normandy format will support this step, and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine will provide practical assistance to the maintenance of the ceasefire.
