Ukraine Makes Offers to Russia - Russia Suspends Invasion

[Reality Check]

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Geneva talks reach a vague, preliminary, initial agreement on what Ukraine, and the West, will give Russia in return for Russia suspending the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The joint written statement describing the agreement reached contained no time table nor did it contain a sequence of events.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/a ... a9012cda6f

What was in the joint statement:

1. Ukraine would re-write it's Constitution in manner that "will be inclusive, transparent and accountable. It will include the immediate establishment of a broad national dialogue, with outreach to all of Ukraine’s regions and political constituencies, and allow for the consideration of public comments and proposed amendments." No time table for when the new Constitution will be agreed to, no clarification as to what form a national dialogue might take, no sequence as to when the formal means of national dialogue will begin relative to the surrender of buildings by pro-Russian militias, no sequence as to the new Constitution being complete and in effect, before the next elections. None of the above items were included in the written joint statement on the initial, preliminary, agreement reached.

2. All illegal armed groups must be disarmed. No definition of what an illegal armed group is. No time table for this occurring. No sequence as to when this will occur ( before or after other events ). None of the above items were included in the written joint statement on the initial, preliminary, agreement reached.

3. All illegally seized buildings must be returned to legitimate owners. No definition of what an illegally seized building is nor of what a legitimate owner is when discussing public buildings. No time table for this occurring. No sequence as to when this will occur ( before or after other agreed events ). None of the above items were included in the written joint statement on the initial, preliminary, agreement reached.

4. OSCE will have some kind of monitoring mission. Moscow has a veto in the OSCE as to what the mission of the monitors will be.

5. There will be further discussions on economic and financial support to Ukraine.

What was NOT in the joint written statement but was talked about in comments:

1. Kerry in his remarks went on, and on, about how generous the Kiev governments offers of autonomy for parts ( regions ? or provinces ? ) of Ukraine were. No indication of when this autonomy would occur ( immediately before buildings are returned to a new autonomous government or much later after a new constitution was in place or at some other time ).

2. Kerry said no sanctions on Russia now but maybe later, if Russia did not live up to U.S. and E.U. expectations regarding De-esclating the situation. Kerry said U.S. and E.U. "hoped" that Russia would decide to remove troops from around Ukraine as things progressed. Kerry went out of his way to praise Russia for removing a few hundred men from the border a week or so ago.

3. Lavrov, in verbal re-marks, claimed it was, by Ukrainian law, illegal for Ukraine to join Nato. Larvorov implied he expected that to be in the new constitution.

4. Lavrov indicated true autonomy for regions, not the existence of a Federal vs Unitary form of government in Ukraine were what was most important to him.

5. Lavrov made clear there were no Russian troops in Ukraine except those allowed by International law ( Crimea ).

6. Kerry made clear that Russia had NOT agreed to remove any troops from around Ukraine's border. Kerry stressed this was just an initial, Preliminary agreement.

What was NOT in the joint written statement, and, also Not mentioned in verbal remarks.

1. Russia did not recognize the Kiev government as legitimate.

2. No one stated that an election in May would occur.

3. No one stated that an election before a new constitution was in effect would occur.

4. Russia did not agree to remove it's invasion force from around Ukraine's borders, until Russia believed the crisis in Ukraine was over.

5. No one indicated how the representatives from the pro-Russian regions of Ukraine would be selected for a Constitution convention ( or what ever process would be used to draft a new Constitution ).

6. No one indicated how, or when, new autonomous governments for regions / provinces / municipalities would be elected and put in place.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/a ... a9012cda6f
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