Interfax: Ukrainian General Staff Chief: Donbas truce to last indefinitely

KYIV. Dec 9 (Interfax) – The ceasefire regime declared in the army operation zone on December 9 will last indefinitely, Ukrainian General Staff Chief – Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko said.

“Seeking to implement the peace plan we are introducing a ceasefire regime, the so-called regime of silence, at 10 a.m. on December 9,” the General Staff Chief said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

“The regime of silence will take effect today and we will discuss the fulfillment of other stabilization measures in eastern Ukraine when we have guarantees that hostilities have really been halted,” Muzhenko said.

He underlined that the truce “was declared for an indefinite period of time.”

“This is a common process for both sides and we reserve the right to an adequate response to violations of this regime,” the General Staff chief noted.

The declaration of ceasefire is based on the belief that “human life is [of] the utmost value,” Muzhenko noted. “Unnecessary casualties amongst the military servicemen and the civilian population on either side are unacceptable,” he underlined.

“I think we have done a lot to coordinate every ceasefire issue… We have arrived at a conclusion that we have certain guarantees of the fulfillment of this regime but, unfortunately, we have seen two violations of the regime of silence, two shooting incidents in the Debaltseve area, since 10 a.m.,” Muzhenko said.

As to what a full ceasefire guarantee means, either the withdrawal of forces, or the end of bombardments, the General Staff chief said, “These are the steps to follow the first stage, after we attain a lasting ceasefire.”

He also said he did not know when the Minsk meeting might take place. “I am unaware of the precise date on which such meetings may be held,” Muzhenko said.