Negotiators Agree on Buffer Zone in Ukraine

Negotiators in Ukrainian peace talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk agreed Saturday to create a buffer zone separating government troops and pro-Russian separatists as well as to withdraw  heavy weapons and foreign fighters so as to ensure stability of the truce in eastern Ukraine.

According to the Associated Press, representatives from the Ukrainian government, Russia, the pro-Russiian rebels (allegedly backed by Moscow) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) took part in the talks, The New York Times reports.

Some of the dignitaries attending the talks were former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Russian envoy Mikhail Zurabov, Xinhua reports.

The memorandum was signed after hours of difficult talks that continued till late in the night. According to it, the parties fighting against each other must strictly remain "where they were yesterday and make no attempts to advance".

Kuchma, after the meeting, said that both the parties have agreed to move artillery around 15 km away from the front line in order to create a 30 km or 19 miles wide buffer zone.

Kuchma further said that Ukraine as well as the pro-Russian rebel groups would also be withdrawing from the usage of heavy weaponry in populated areas.

The deal also bans combat aircraft over the area of conflict and the laying of new minefields.

"It should offer the population a chance to feel secure," said Igor Plotnitsky, who is the leader of rebels in the Luhansk region. He said that the memorandum also requires the withdrawal of "all foreign armed units and weapons, as well as militants and mercenaries" - this is a diplomatic reference to Russians fighting along with the rebels.

Signing of this deal is aimed at strengthening the fragile ceasefire agreement that was reached upon Sept. 5, but which was frequently broken by clashes, Independent.ie reports.