Peace Plan

From the BBC:
"Ukraine crisis: Details of Poroshenko's peace plan emerge"

Details have emerged of a 14-point peace plan to be unveiled by Ukraine's President Poroshenko later. The document, calling for disarmament in eastern Ukraine, appeared in Ukrainian media overnight. It comes after Mr Poroshenko held his second phone conversation this week with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Heavy fighting is continuing between government forces and pro-Russia rebels, with new reports of military hardware entering Ukraine from Russia. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhaylo Koval told parliament on Friday that Ukraine had closed its border to military vehicles in the past week, but that three tanks and 10 Grad rocket launchers had already crossed over.

"We are keeping an eye on these vehicles, watching them," he said. "As soon as they appear within artillery range, we open fire immediately." Meanwhile Dmitriy Peskov, a spokesman for Mr Putin, said the president had ordered measures to be taken to "strengthen the protection of Russian borders".

But he dismissed remarks by Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen that at least a few thousand Russian soldiers had been deployed to the border area, saying "there is no build-up".

In their telephone conversation on Thursday night, the Ukrainian and Russian presidents discussed Mr Poroshenko's proposals for a peace plan , which is due to be presented officially on Friday.

The document promises to decentralise power and hold early local and parliamentary elections.

It also proposes the creation of a 10km (6 mile) buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border, and a safe corridor for pro-Russian separatists to leave the conflict areas. Mr Poroshenko has already announced that he intends to introduce a unilateral ceasefire by government forces ahead of the peace plan being implements.

Plan Points:

Measures to decentralise power and early local and parliamentary elections

Illegally occupied buildings to be vacated and hostages to be released

A 10-km buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border and safe corridor for separatists to leave by

Central TV and radio broadcasting to resume in Donetsk and Luhansk regions

^ This is a very great step on the part of Ukraine. They are willing to give up a lot (considering they didn't start the violence) and are still willing to deal with Russia even though they annexed part of the Ukraine. I doubt Russia would be so kind if something like that happened in their country. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27937596