Monitoring Desk: Peace document is prepared but yet to share with media after one of the longest ever diplomatic talks that are still on in the history of European diplomacy to resolve Ukraine crises.
Ukraine media claims that 10-point document is ready. Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are negotiating truce for Ukraine during their extraordinary meeting at Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus.All heads of states did not sleep last night and kept trying to resolve Ukraine issue that has already cost over 5,500 deaths in Eastern Ukraine. Russia is blamed by west to provide heavy weapons to separatists in Eastern Ukraine while Russia denies these charges.
Wall Street Journal reports that all sides say negotiators are seeking an immediate cease-fire and the pullback of heavy weapons, followed by steps to give the Russia-backed separatist regions in east Ukraine greater political and economic autonomy.
Reports suggest that intense Minsk talks enter will continue even after non-stop conversations that lasted for 12 hours.
After over 8 hours negotiation, all leaders are still in Palace and will continue talks after a rest, reports European media.
“The leaders of the ‘Normandy Four’ – Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine – are continuing their roller coaster talks at the Minsk Palace of Independence. Their attempt to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis has been dragging on for almost 12 hours”, reports RT Russia.
“More time is needed” became the slogan used by participants of talks, as journalists waited outside. “There is progress, but it is not a simple conversation. More time is needed,” reports Russian news agency Sputnik.
German media called negotiations as “tensed and constant”.
The Minsk peace negotiations have become one of the longest in the European diplomatic history of post WWII and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has decided to delay his departure to Brazil indicating that talks will take more time but all parties are trying to reach to some basic decisions before leaving Minsk.
Options discussed in the Minsk Summit include:
1- How much Autonomy can be given to Eastern Ukrainian parts that are virtually controlled by separatists. What areas can be considered as Eastern Ukrainian new autonomous part?
2- Announcing no-war zone in Eastern Ukraine.
3- Announcement of Russian language as one of the state language of Ukraine. It may be mentioned that US-backed Kiev government announced Ukrainian as the only State language of Ukraine after coming in power.
4- Withdrawal of alleged Russian forces from Eastern Ukraine.
