© Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko
Ukrainian servicemen load shells into a tank at a check point in the southern coastal town of Mariupol September 5, 2014.
Both sides in the Ukrainian conflict have agreed to
"all to all" prisoners of war exchange, hardware withdrawal and humanitarian aid access to the area. Kiev and rebel troops laid down arms as the main agreement - ceasefire- came into force at 15:00 GMT.
The contact group in Minsk agreed on three key issues: ceasefire, exchange of war prisoners and humanitarian aid access, OSCE envoy Tagliavini told reporters.
"We continued consultation and agreed on other issues. Among them are the ceasefire, the withdrawal of troops and the "all to all" exchange of prisoners," she said.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Wales, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that prisoner of war exchange can take place "soon, maybe tomorrow."
According to estimates enumerated by Russia's ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov, the exchange may affect "more than 1,000 people from each side."
"We exchanged lists of prisoners and started the exchange process immediately," said former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who represented Ukraine at the talks in Minsk.
"Within three days an expert group will be formed, which should provide a thorough plan of the release of prisoners of war," Zurabov said.
Comment: So far, east Ukraine has seen a short-lived week-long ceasefire:
Also, Poroshenko flip-flopping on the terms of the ceasefire, leaving himself a way out:
And yet we're to believe that Putin, who isn't even a part of this conflict, is responsible for all the 'escalations' and 'aggression'? The leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk, at least, have so far behaved with dignity. For how long will Kiev and Poroshenko continue to keep up the mask of 'peaceful' intentions before they break the ceasefire? Or are their hands being forced in some way to actually do the right thing?
Comment: So far, east Ukraine has seen a short-lived week-long ceasefire:
- Ceasefire broken (again!): At least 3 killed in Kiev shelling of residential Slavyansk
Also, Poroshenko flip-flopping on the terms of the ceasefire, leaving himself a way out:- Conflicting reports about "permanent ceasefire" in Ukraine
And yet we're to believe that Putin, who isn't even a part of this conflict, is responsible for all the 'escalations' and 'aggression'? The leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk, at least, have so far behaved with dignity. For how long will Kiev and Poroshenko continue to keep up the mask of 'peaceful' intentions before they break the ceasefire? Or are their hands being forced in some way to actually do the right thing?