Putin reveals "7-point plan" for ceasefire in Ukraine

Putin reveals "7-point plan" for ceasefire in Ukraine

RT is reporting that Putin told journalists he had "outlined some ideas and a plan of action" while on his way to Ulan-Bator in Mongolia.

According to the website, the plan envisages militias ceasing military advances in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions; pro-Kiev armed forces withdrawing to a distance that excludes the possibility of shelling settlements; implementation in full and objective international control over ceasefire observation and monitoring; as well as exclusion of the use of combat aircraft against civilians and villages.

Putin further proposes prisoner/captive-exchange via an "all-in-all formula, without preconditions, humanitarian corridors for refugees movement and delivery of humanitarian aid across Donetsk and Lugansk regions, and direct repair-crew access to destroyed social and transit infrastructure with supportive aid.

Putin also "expressed hope that final agreements between Kiev and militia in southeastern Ukraine could be reached and secured at the coming meeting of the so-called contact group on September 5."

“I hope the leaders of Ukraine will support the anticipated progress in bilateral relations,” Russia’s president said, and "called on Ukraine to take an active part in the work of the contact group for a final and comprehensive settlement of the situation in the southeastern Ukraine, of course, with full and unconditional assurance of the legitimate rights of the people who live there.”

Commenting on the phone call with the Ukrainian president, Putin stressed that their views on ways to resolve the conflict "are aligned," RT reported.

After the conversation earlier on Wednesday, Kiev said an agreement was reached on "a permanent ceasefire," but later retracted it, with the new wording talking of a ceasefire “regime," the website said, and explained that "the Russian and Ukrainian languages use the word to mean 'mode', signifying the possibility of a softer, less permanent version of the previous suggestion."

Also speaking earlier in the day, Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the original wording was not applicable "because Russia is not a party to the violence."