Ukraine and Russia promise 'roadmap' to peace after talks
Putin and Poroshenko agree to work together, but Russia says it's up to Kiev to end the fighting
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to work together to end tensions in eastern Ukraine, following the first direct talks between Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko since the conflict began.
"A roadmap will be prepared in order to achieve, as soon as possible, a ceasefire regime which absolutely must be bilateral in character," Poroshenko said, according to the BBC. "Our main goal is peace. We are demanding decisive actions which will bring peace on Ukrainian soil."
President Putin said Russia would do everything to support the peace plan between Kiev and the rebels "if it starts", but said it was Ukraine's responsibility to talk to the separatists in order to end the fighting.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
EU negotiator Baroness Ashton, who has been involved in the talks held in Belarus, said the results were "positive". She added: "There was a sense in which the onus was on everyone to see if they could do their best to try to resolve this."
The Kremlin has been accused of arming the rebels, a claim it has repeatedly denied.
In June Poroshenko declared a unilateral ceasefire but accused rebel forces of failing to follow suit. Since then Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 gas been shot down over the country and Ukrainian forces have laid siege to several towns in the region. More than 2,000 people have been killed in fighting between the Ukrainian army and Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.
In a separate development, Nato has announced that troops will be deployed to key bases in Eastern Europe in order to serve as deterrent to Russia if it harbours plans to invade the region.
A final decision on the move is expected to be made at a summit in Cardiff next week and could potentially increase tensions between Russia and the West, The Guardian reports.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The real story behind the Stanford Prison Experiment
The Explainer 'Everything you think you know is wrong' about Philip Zimbardo's infamous prison simulation
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Is it safe for refugees to return to Syria?
Talking Point European countries rapidly froze asylum claims after Assad's fall but Syrian refugees may have reason not to rush home
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 - 20 December
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ukraine assassinations: what is Kyiv hoping to achieve?
Today's Big Question Ukrainian security services are thought to be responsible for a string of high-profile deaths inside Russia
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
NATO chief urges Europe to arm against Russia
Speed Read Mark Rutte said Putin wants to 'wipe Ukraine off the map' and might come for other parts of Europe next
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Could Russia's faltering economy end the war?
Today's Big Question Sanctions are taking a toll. So could an end to combat.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published
-
The nuclear threat: is Vladimir Putin bluffing?
Talking Point Kremlin's newest ballistic missile has some worried for Nato nations
By The Week UK Published