Parties agree on buffer zone in eastern Ukraine

(Vatican Radio) Negotiators in peace talks have agreed to create a buffer zone to separate government troops and pro-Russian separatists and to withdraw heavy weapons and foreign fighters in eastern Ukraine.  

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:

Officials said the deal on a buffer zone was reached by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and pro-Russian rebels, as well as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe early Saturday in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, after hours of difficult talks. 

Under the agreement, each party must pull its artillery at least 14 km back as part of a massive 30-km-wide buffer zone. 

The longer-range artillery systems are to be pulled even further back to make sure the parties cannot reach one another.

BANNING FLIGHTS 

It also specifically bans flights by combat aircraft over the area of conflict and the establishment of new minefields.

Leonid Kuchma, a former Ukrainian president who represented the Kiev government in the talks, said the memorandum will be implemented "within a day".

The announcement came shortly after current Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met his American counterpart, Barack Obama, at the White House. Obama did not publicly agree with Kiev's request for delivering lethal weapons to Ukraine. 

Addressing a joint session of the United States Congress, Poroshenko earlier urged legislators to develop closer military ties.

“Blankets, night vision goggles are also important, but one cannot win the war with blankets. Even more, we cannot keep the peace with a blanket,” he said. 

SUPPORTING UKRAINE

Yet Washington has made clear it wants to avoid a military confrontation with Russia, which it accuses of supporting pro-Russian rebels, at a time when it seeks international support to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. However, Obama stressed that America wants to help Poroshenko and his former Soviet republic as it seeks a peace deal to end the bloody conflict. 

"We are prepared to support Ukraine in negotiations with Russia in order to make sure that the Ukrainian people can enjoy the freedom and prosperity that is their right," Obama added. 

The deal announced Saturday comes amid concerns over violations of a ceasefire, which was signed September 5.  

At least 3,000 people have died in the conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, the United Nations says.