Ukraine deal with pro-Russian rebels

Ukraine's government and pro-Russia rebels have agreed a memorandum on a peace plan for the eastern conflict. The nine-point deal includes setting up a 30km (19-mile) buffer zone, a ban on overflights of part of eastern Ukraine by military aircraft and the withdrawal of ‘foreign mercenaries’ on both sides. The agreement was announced at talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk, where a ceasefire was agreed on 5 September. More than 3,000 have died in fighting in two eastern regions since April. The original ceasefire has been frequently violated but is still holding. Ukraine accuses Russia of arming separatists and sending Russian troops to the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Kremlin denies it has any role there. In a separate development on Saturday, a humanitarian convoy of about 200 lorries from Russia has arrived in the city of Donetsk, Russian news agencies report. They say the convoy - Russia's third in recent weeks - delivered food, water and generators, but this was done without Ukraine's authorization, according to BBC.