Poroshenko will stop the fire only after displacing the rebels from the border with Russia
Kyiv, June 16 (Navigator, Mikhail Ryabov) – The Ukrainian authorities intend to declare a short-term ceasefire in the Donbass only at the moment when Ukrainian troops manage to regain control of the border with Russia.
President Petro Poroshenko stated this at a meeting of the Security Council of Ukraine.
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According to the head of state, the lack of control over the border is “the only deterrent to the introduction of a ceasefire.”
“As soon as the border is closed, we can immediately proclaim a ceasefire system. Declaring a ceasefire on an open border is irresponsible to the situation that is developing in Donetsk and Lugansk. And today, I say again, the level of combat capability, the level of determination of the Armed Forces, border guards, and the National Guard gives me grounds for cautious optimism regarding the timing of implementation,” Poroshenko said.
According to him, over the past week, the Ukrainian army has regained control over 250 km of the border, through which, according to Poroshenko, tanks, artillery and multiple launch rocket systems had previously broken into Ukrainian territory.
“I want to emphasize that the duration of the ceasefire will be limited. It is irresponsible today to get involved in a protracted negotiation process, because we do not need negotiations for the sake of negotiations. Today we really need to reach a regime where, on the one hand, we can guarantee the safety of everyone who lives in Donetsk and Lugansk, we can guarantee protection from looting, and contribute to the disarmament process, which will be followed by a decision on amnesty or protection from criminal liability of those persons who have not committed serious crimes and who have no blood on their hands,” Poroshenko explained.
Poroshenko will stop the fire only after the rebels are driven back from the Russian border.