The Truce in Donbas Will Last until the First Rebels’ Attacks

The ceasefire regime in Donbas will be cancelled after the first attacks by pro-Russian militants. This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran.

“No one is going to wait for us to be killed. There is Article 51 of the UN Charter, which gives the right to defend. But now we are talking about a real opportunity to stop the fire from both sides,” the minister emphasised.

He believes that the ceasefire document signed the day before within the Tripartite Contact Group gives the parties the opportunity to demonstrate their political will. Taran also added that the Ukrainian authorities “really have such political will.” Now, its presence must be demonstrated on the other side of the contact line.

At the same time, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted that the planned truce is only the first step. The next step is to create a document stating who will be responsible for violating the agreements.

Bohdan Marusyak