Russia and West reach surprise deal on Ukraine crisis

[Jefferson23]

Russia, Ukraine and the West have reached a compromise to try to ease the Ukrainian crisis, in a glimmer of hope for the former Soviet republic that risks splitting in two


Vladimir Putin has secured key concessions from Ukraine and its Western supporters as the Kremlin was offered a central role in determining the future of its neighbour and former client state.

Four-way talks in Geneva involving Kiev and Moscow, alongside the US and EU, called for steps to end the occupation of eastern cities by pro-Russian sympathisers.

If the agreement holds, a monitoring mission of the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe would oversee the handover of occupied government buildings by protesters in return for an amnesty for anyone not facing capital crimes.

Ukraine’s interim government in turn agreed to accept future talks on far-reaching constitutional reform that would grant the Russian-speaking east the extensive autonomy demanded by the Kremlin.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10774084/Russia-and-West-reach-surprise-deal-on-Ukraine-crisis.html

[CFLDem]

1. Peace

In this case is just a tool for Putin to conquer Ukraine without bloodshed.

[JackRiddler]

2. Better choose war!

Peace, as we've known since Bush the Elder, is the "nightmare scenario."

[CFLDem]

4. Hate to tell you

but the war has already started.

[JackRiddler]

5. That's what they thought in August 1914.

Though I'm guessing your preferred parable, if this plan not to have a world war sticks, will be "Munich." No?

[CFLDem]

7. Actually I was referring specifically between Ukraine and Russia

let's hope it does not expand any further.

Either way, the war has started.

[Junkdrawer]

3. As Russian and US fighters were lighting the radar of opposing naval fleets....

Last edited Fri Apr 18, 2014, 11:26 AM - Edit history (1)

this is great news.

Bloodshed tends to remove options.

[Jefferson23]

8. Step in the right direction, it seems..yes. n/t

[LuvNewcastle]

6. Let's hope this agreement holds.

There's no need to have a war over this shit. Give people in Ukraine the right to self-determination and let them evolve as they will. If the east wants to split and join Russia, let them. But let them have a vote on it and let there be a peaceful transition. If everyone will just stay out of their business, I think they'll be okay. Just encourage them to do things peacefully. It's happened in other countries, and it can happen in Ukraine as well.

[bemildred]

9. Ukraine talks yield an unexpected agreement

Diplomats from the East and West had an unexpected meeting of the minds Thursday and drafted a plan for tamping down hostilities in eastern Ukraine by disarming rogue gunmen and restoring government sites seized by pro-Russia militants to their "legitimate owners."

The agreement, signed by the top diplomats of Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine, at least temporarily staved off sanctions against Moscow, although U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that no one had left the meeting in Geneva "with a sense that the job is done because of words on a paper."

Russia will have to demonstrate its commitment to de-escalating the Ukraine crisis within days or face stepped-up sanctions, Kerry warned.

At the White House, President Obama expressed skepticism about Russia's willingness to comply.

http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-talks-20140418,0,3443577.story

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. If Russia were true to its word, it should issue a statement...

...stating that it refuses to annex any separatist regions of Ukraine into the Russian Federation like it did with Crimea.

If Russia were true to its word, that is.

But again, this is the place that Putin just yesterday called "Novorussiya" ("New Russia&quot . So I don't see much actual action on Russia's part.

Maybe I'll be wrong. Who knows?

[LanternWaste]

13. I'm guessing Moscow will get a few new rump states just east of the Donets and Desna rivers...

I'm guessing Moscow will get a few new rump states just east of the Donets and Desna rivers at the expense of Kiev after all is said and done.

[Jefferson23]

11. Eastern Ukraine militants snub Geneva deal on crisis

James Reynolds reports as activists reinforce barricades in Donetsk




Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk say they will not leave the government building there, defying the Kiev authorities and threatening a new international deal on Ukraine.

The separatists' spokesman said that the Kiev government was "illegal" and so they would not go until it stepped down.

Russia, Ukraine, the EU and US earlier agreed that illegal military groups in Ukraine must leave official buildings.

The deal was reached in Geneva.

The sides agreed that illegal military groups in Ukraine must be dissolved, and that those occupying buildings must be disarmed and leave them. The foreign ministers also agreed that there would be an amnesty for all anti-government protesters.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27076226

[femmocrat]

12. Nothing on Crimea? n/t