Ukraine offers Easter truce to pro-Russia seperatists

(Vatican Radio) As Ukrainian believers prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter,

Ukraine's interim government has offered peace to pro-Russian separatists in the east.


Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deschytsia announced that authorities have halted a crackdown on groups seeking to breakaway from this former Soviet nation. "The anti-terrorist operation, was put on hold for the Easter time," he explained. "And we will be not using force against them, at this moment."


Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk and Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov also pledged in a joint broadcast to grant more power to the regions and to give a special status to the Russian language.

Their offer followed an international deal in Geneva involving the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union.


ILLEGAL GROUPS

Under the accord all illegal armed groups must disarm and end occupations of government buildings, streets and squares.

That has raised questions whether pro-European protesters remaining on Kyiv's blood-stained Independence Square, also known as Maidan, will face police action as well.

Some 100 people were killed in the area during the overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Yet Minister Deschytsia says authorities are patient. "What we agreed in Geneva is this measures will be addressed only to those who illegally occupied the buildings ans streets. Activities [on the] Maidan [and of the Maidan movement] are based on the permission from the city council," the top diplomat said.


KEEPING PROMISES?

"And I believe that people do stick to the promises that they need the time to be on the streets to clean their barricades, to take it over, and to get back life to normal," Deschytsia added.


His governments wants a more stable Ukraine in time fore the early presidential elections on May 25th.


Yet a self-declared leader of eastern separatists said his men were not bound by any international agreement.


They seek a union with Russia, similar to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula which was annexed by Moscow. And tens of thousands of Russian troops remain near Ukraine's borders.


Washington has threatened further sanctions on Russia if the stand-off continues, though Moscow denies its forces are involved in the latest unrest.


Listen to Stefan Bos’ report: