Ukraine crisis deal reached in Geneva in move to calm tensions

Leaders of a high-level diplomatic effort to defuse the spiralling tensions over Ukraine reached an agreement today over ways to start de-escalating the crisis.

The agreement, which grants amnesty to members of armed groups who agree to leave the public buildings they have been occupying, was reached by US secretary of state John Kerry and his counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Aston after more than five hours of talks.

“The Geneva meeting on the situation in Ukraine agreed on initial concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore security for all citizens,“ they said in a joint statement. “All sides must refrain from any violence, intimidation or provocative actions,“ the joint statement said. “The participants strongly condemned and rejected all expressions of extremism, racism and religious intolerance, including anti-Semitism.“

Whether the agreement would de-escalate the crisis, and how quickly, remained unclear.

It was reached the same day that president Vladimir Putin of Russia used aggressive new language in asserting Russia’s historic rights to eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia insurgents have taken control in several cities, rejecting the authority of the Ukrainian government in Kiev.

“All illegal armed groups must be disarmed; all illegally seized buildings must be returned to legitimate owners; all illegally occupied streets, squares and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated,”the agreement stated.

As the talks began, all sides had an incentive to avoid a diplomatic confrontation.

Russia wanted to avoid the perception that it was being uncooperative in the search for a diplomatic solution and, thus, discourage Western nations from imposing new economic sanctions.

US officials have also sought to give Ukraine time to hold its May 25th presidential election without more extensive Russian interference. European nations, for their part, would prefer not to impose extensive sanctions.

New York Times