On Monday, some cautiously optimistic news came from Ukraine, as pro-Russia rebels battling government forces announced they have agreed to a temporary cease-fire. On Friday, new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a week-long, unilateral, ceasefire, as well as a 15-point peace plan to try to settle unrest in the eastern part of the country.
Here’s more on the day’s détente from the Associated Press:
The insurgents’ pledge to respect the cease-fire came on the first day of talks between a former Ukrainian president, the Russian ambassador, European officials and the eastern separatists who have declared independence. While the government side was nominally not represented, ex-President Leonid Kuchma attended the discussions at the request of the sitting president…
The insurgents had previously demanded the Ukrainian military withdraw its troops from the east as a condition for any talks, so Borodai’s statement represented a softened stance that raised expectations that the cease-fire could hold. Even before the insurgents made their pledge, the government said that there had been no fighting in the east since Monday morning.
