Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha
Geneva: In what aims to de-escalate the flare-up in eastern Ukraine provinces, a deal was agreed upon by the negotiating members in Geneva on Thursday that allowed amnesty for all anti-government protesters and demanded them to disarm anf vacate the key institutions occupied.
US Secretary of State John Kerry along with his counterparts from the European Union, Russia and Ukraine negotiated for hours to emerge with a joint statement that focussed on calming the situation in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian activists had occupied key institutions and also seized military vehicles and police stations.
The crisis in Ukraine intensified after the ouster of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, which culminated in the annexation of Crimea by Russia after a referendum.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Ukraine`s acting foregn Minister Andriy Deshchytsia, and US` John Kerry finally cut a deal at the Geneva talks which called for all illegal military armed groups to shun arms and leave the buildings occupied by them.
The joint statement also agrees to grant amnesty to all anti-government protesters other than the armed groups who recently created ruckus in eastern cities like Kramatorsk, Luhansk, Donestsk, etc.
Whether the statement is implemented or not will be monitred by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Speaking ater the meeting, Kerry warned that the joint statement was mere “words on paper” and "What is important is that these words are translated into actions”.
Kerry also raked up the issue of Jewish people in Ukraine, caling it grotesque that they were sent notices to register themseves as Jewish.
Meanwhile, Russian FM Mr Lavrov urged for long-term constitutional reforms, saying that the Ukraine`s issues must be solved by Ukrainians themselves.
The Geneva talks come as the first ray of hope in the saga of Ukraine crisis with all sides agreeing to resolve the situation, however how much of it turns to ground reality, is not certain.
For now, the West has kept on hold the idea of imposing more sanctions on Russia, however Kerry did not spare the warning saying “more costs” were on the way if the deal was not followed by.
Ukraine has been in the throes of crisis since Viktor`s Yanukovych was ousted in Feb, following a gory crackdown by the riot police that killed dozens.
After that tensions escalated in Crimea, which led to Russian annexation. A similar wave seemed to occupy other eastern parts of Ukraine which are majorly pro-Russian.
