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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian army ready to cease fire in east in 5-7 days - Security Council chief

The government had been instructed to organise unilateral demarcation of the border with Russia

KIEV, June 16, /ITAR-TASS/. The Ukrainian troops engaged in an army operation in the east of the country will be ready to cease fire in 5-7 days, Security and Defence Council Secretary Andrei Paryby said on Monday, June 16.

“We think we will be ready to commence the president’s peace initiatives in 5-7 days. The period for implementing these steps will not exceed two weeks,” he said.

President Petro Poroshenko said his peace plan would become effective on Monday, June 16.

“A peace plan will take effect. A ceasefire will be offered to launch the president’s peace plan. I hope it will happen this week,” Poroshenko said at a meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council on Monday.

He said Ukraine “does not need to be involved in a lengthy negotiating process” and recalled that the biggest part of his peace plan had been outlined in his inauguration speech.

Parliament Speaker Alexander Turchinov said that Poroshenko would submit a decentralisation bill to the parliament this week.

“I have talked with the president. He is planning to initiate changes to the Constitution this week with regard to decentralisation of power,” he said.

In the meantime, the Security and Defence Council is considering imposing martial law in the eastern Lugansk and Donetsk regions.

“This issue is under consideration. But I stress that at first we will do everything we can to suggest to the armed side which is using weapons against Ukrainian citizens, against the state of Ukraine, that it lay down its arms and leave the state of Ukraine,” Paruby said.

He also said that the government had been instructed to organise unilateral demarcation of the border with Russia in accordance with a decree to be signed by the president.

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Eastern Ukraine

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