At negotiations in Minsk, a protocol on the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was signed

In Minsk, at the negotiations of the contact group between representatives of Ukraine and the separatists with the participation of the OSCE, a preliminary protocol was signed to the ceasefire agreement. This is stated in a statement by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. A truce should occur at 17:00 (18:00 Moscow time) on Friday.

The ceasefire should be exclusively bilateral and controlled by international observers, Poroshenko emphasized .

Ukraine in Minsk is represented by ex -president Leonid Kuchma, Russia - Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, separatists - "Prime Minister of the DPR" Alexander Zakharchenko.

"The protocol of 14 points, which include all aspects of control, exchange of prisoners and other issues," a source close to negotiations told Interfax.

On Thursday, Poroshenko said that he was ready to order fire to the forces of an anti -terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. The condition of this will be the beginning of peace negotiations in Minsk. "If the meeting takes place, I will give an order to the leadership of the General Staff on a bilateral ceasefire," the president said. Ukraine never wanted a war and was already tired of it, so he will do everything possible to return the world, Poroshenko noted.

The statement was made after Poroshenko’s meeting with the leaders of NATO countries at the Alliance summit in Wales.

Earlier on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogg Rasmussen accused Russia of direct aggression against Ukraine . "We are dealing with a radically changed security situation. In the east, Russia attacks Ukraine," Rasmussen said. When asked about the plan of Russian President Vladimir Putin to peacefully settle the conflict, Rasmussen replied that the Alliance welcomes such attempts, but only what is happening in practice.

The Supreme Commander -in -Chief of the United Armed Forces of NATO in Europe, Philip Bridlav, was also critical of Putin's plan. “I do not have much confidence in the fact that Putin laid out on the table,” the general noted. “The proposal for the ceasefire when the offensive of the Russian troops within Ukraine continues, I think that this is an empty phrase.”