Russia, Ukraine ‘very close’ on peace deal despite renewed shelling
(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday a deal to end fighting in eastern Ukraine could be reached this week, a clear attempt to show the West he was trying to deescalate the conflict despite renewed shelling.
After speaking with Ukraine’s Petro Poroshenko, Putin said their views on ending the violence were “very close” and Kiev and the rebels could reach an agreement by Friday, much-needed respite for the Ukrainian leader battling a crumbling economy.
But hopes of peace were clouded by Western concerns that the announcement was timed by the Kremlin to wrong-foot NATO on the eve of a summit that will discuss the crisis and to sow doubt in the European Union over imposing new sanctions against Moscow.
U.S. President Barack Obama said a ceasefire would succeed only if Moscow stopped sending troops to Ukraine.
New shelling of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, sending plumes of gray smoke from near the city’s airport, also undermined confidence in an end to hostilities.
“The parties reached mutual understanding on the steps that will facilitate the establishment of peace,” Poroshenko’s office said, amending an earlier statement that had spoken of agreement on a “permanent ceasefire”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the leaders agreed on steps toward peace but not a ceasefire because Russia was not a party to the conflict, which has killed more than 2,600 people since April and caused the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War.
Putin sounded upbeat in comments to reporters during a visit to Mongolia.
“Our views on the way to resolve the conflict, as it seemed to me, are very close,” he said, outlining the seven steps he had put forward to secure a resolution to the crisis.
These steps, he suggested, should include a prisoner exchange and the creation of a humanitarian corridor for refugees and aid supplies. He called for Ukrainian troops to pull back and for rebels to cease offensive operations.
