Talks between the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine which extended throughout the night in Belarus, have led to an agreed ceasefire deal, aimed at halting fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The ceasefire is due to come into force on 15 February, with the deal also including prisoner exchanges, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the lifting of restrictions on separatist held areas of Ukraine.
However, Russian president Vladimir Putin said that there were still issues that needed resolving. “The first thing is constitutional reform that should take into consideration the legitimate rights of people who live in Donbass,” said Mr Putin. “There are also border issues. Finally there are a whole range of economic and humanitarian issues.”
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's president said the negotiations were “not easy”, stating “all sorts of unacceptable conditions were put forth to us”.
The deal was hailed by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who said “we now have a glimmer of hope”, but warned “there is very, very much work still to do”.
Meanwhile separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine also praised the ceasefire, with Donetsk leader Alexander Zakharchenko saying it was a “major victory for the Luhansk and Donetsk people’s republics”. Luhansk leader Igor Plotnitsky stated that with the ceasefire in place, it now gives “Ukraine a chance, so that the country changes its constitution and its attitude”.
The move comes as the International Monetary Fund announced it would loan Ukraine $17.5 billion, as the country faces bankruptcy. Christine Lagarde, the fund's managing director said,
The ceasefire is due to come into force on 15 February, with the deal also including prisoner exchanges, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the lifting of restrictions on separatist held areas of Ukraine.
However, Russian president Vladimir Putin said that there were still issues that needed resolving. “The first thing is constitutional reform that should take into consideration the legitimate rights of people who live in Donbass,” said Mr Putin. “There are also border issues. Finally there are a whole range of economic and humanitarian issues.”
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's president said the negotiations were “not easy”, stating “all sorts of unacceptable conditions were put forth to us”.
The deal was hailed by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who said “we now have a glimmer of hope”, but warned “there is very, very much work still to do”.
Meanwhile separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine also praised the ceasefire, with Donetsk leader Alexander Zakharchenko saying it was a “major victory for the Luhansk and Donetsk people’s republics”. Luhansk leader Igor Plotnitsky stated that with the ceasefire in place, it now gives “Ukraine a chance, so that the country changes its constitution and its attitude”.
The move comes as the International Monetary Fund announced it would loan Ukraine $17.5 billion, as the country faces bankruptcy. Christine Lagarde, the fund's managing director said,
“It is an ambitious programme, it is a tough programme and it is not without risk... But it is also a realistic programme and its effective implementation, after consideration and approval by our executive board, can represent a turning point for Ukraine.”