The Battle for Novorussiya

[Lauren Johnson]

Early reports on the negotiations on the possible cease fire from Col. Cassad (machine translated)

In Minsk late on February 10 meeting of the contact group started in Ukraine.

After about two hours after the meeting was adjourned. One of the representatives of the separatists said that the Ukrainian side was handed a package of measures to resolve the situation in the Donbas. Response to suggestions by representatives of Kiev promised to give after the break. This meeting was preceded by negotiations, "Norman Quartet", which is scheduled in Minsk on 11 February. Initially it was assumed that in the meeting of the contact group will participate Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov. However, the list of participants of the meeting, according to "Interfax", he did not hit.

According to the agency, at the negotiating table in the residence "Dipservice hall" in the center of Minsk brought together representatives of the self-proclaimed DNR and LC Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Dane, the second President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, as well as OSCE Special Representative Heidi Tagliavini.

A similar list of participants has led the agency BelTA. However, as noted by TASS, in negotiations with the Ukrainian side also participates Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs, the leader of the public organization "Ukrainian choice" Viktor Medvedchuk. Around the residence, where the meeting of the contact group, strengthened security measures. Next to the building are on duty law enforcement officers. It was assumed that the event will begin at 18:00 local time, but then it was postponed due to the massive fire at the Donbass Kramatorsk, which killed up to 12 people.

Before the meeting, [B]the source RIA "Novosti" in the Russian delegation to the OSCE reported that we will focus on the establishment of a demilitarized zone in the Donbas, free not only from heavy weapons, but also by militias and security forces units. He explained that in Minsk arrangements from September 2014 dealt with the withdrawal of heavy weapons only, and the issue of the withdrawal had not been registered.

An informed source TASS some time after the start of the negotiations said that [B]the contact group agreed scheme withdrawal of heavy weapons, have agreed ceasefire and monitoring its implementation. According to him, the talks also discussed the state system of Donbass and local elections.

Approximately two hours after the meeting was adjourned. During pause negotiator Dennis Pushilin separatists said that [B]the Ukrainian side has been transferred "draft protocol, which includes a set of measures for military and political settlement." According to him, the answer to the other proposed measures negotiators promised to give after the break, "Interfax" reports.

However, the agency's source close to the negotiations said that the exact time when the contact group will meet to discuss the draft protocol separatists, not yet determined.

On the eve of the leader of the "People's Republic of Luhansk" Igor Carpenter said that the negotiations [B]representatives of the "New Russia" will insist "on fixing existing to date mark the line of contact." One of the first issues in the negotiations of the contact group in Minsk will lift the economic blockade with Donbass, said Carpenter.

Last time to negotiate a contact group representatives separatists Pushilin and Dana came in late January. However, the meeting did not take place. Both sides were unhappy statuses negotiators. In Kiev, said that Minsk had come DNR leaders and LC, and separatists in turn, waiting for the negotiations Ukrainian President Poroshenko.

Once the contacts in Minsk failed, military action in the Donbas began to develop with new vigor. Experts say that this was one of the reasons why the leaders of France and Germany, Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel decided to launch a new initiative for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Donbas. This plan last week initially discussed with Poroshenko, and then with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, no official details the content of the initiative Berlin and Paris still no. Journalists, citing its sources say that, most likely, we are talking about the introduction of international peacekeepers in the conflict zone and providing greater autonomy separate action regions. However, it is only officially unconfirmed media speculation.

http://www.newsru.com/world/10feb2015/mi nsksurkov.html - zinc

PS. The bottom line (if leakage negotiations correlate with reality), will try to freeze the conflict through the establishment of a demilitarized zone, which may be introduced or that the peacemakers, if the parties are unable to agree on this. In case of success of the negotiations, there will be the expected operational pause, and the intensity of the fighting will decrease. It is clear that all will rest on the status of Donbass, border control and the issue of elections. Will reach a compromise, we will see tomorrow.[/B][/B][/B][/B]