SIVERSK (Ukraine), June 22 (AFP): Ukraine's new Western-backed leader agreed Sunday to dialogue with separatists not implicated in "murder and torture" as he laid out a peace plan that Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to back.
Petro Poroshenko's initiative follows his announcement on Friday of a week-long unilateral ceasefire in the government's 10-week campaign against pro-Russian rebels that has claimed more than 375 lives and displaced tens of thousands.
The hostilities raged on over the weekend despite Poroshenko's order as government forces used mortar fire to repel waves of raids by militias in the eastern rustbelt who rejected the terms of his pact.
"Both of my grandfathers were killed in World War II fighting the Nazis," said a rebel named Andriy as he prepared ammunition for a heavy machinegun in his battle against what many separatists refer to as the "fascist" in power in Kiev today.
AP report adds: Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged both sides in the Ukrainian conflict to sit down at the negotiating table and find a compromise.
He said such a compromise must guarantee the rights of Russian-speaking residents of eastern Ukraine, who must feel like they are "an integral part" of Ukraine.
Pro-Russian separatists battling Ukrainian troops have declared independence and asked to join Russia, but Moscow has rebuffed their appeals. Both Ukraine and the West, however, accuse Russia of supporting the insurgency.
Putin spoke Sunday after laying a wreath during ceremonies commemorating the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.
His comments followed a statement the night before in which he expressed support for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's decision to declare a cease-fire.
Ukraine president offers talks with pro-Russian rebels
FE Team | Published: June 23, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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