New Ceasefire Agreements in Donbass – 07/22/2020

RIA Novosti reported on the official Ukrainian statement about the new agreements: “Adherence to the ceasefire is a foundational prerequisite for implementing the Minsk agreements and paves the way for fulfilling other points of the accord.” They also covered the entry into force: “The ceasefire in Donbass is holding, according to the press service of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office.”

Ahead of the Contact Group meeting, TASS published an article on the meeting’s background and the situation on the contact line: “The upcoming session of the Contact Group on the settlement in eastern Ukraine will take place amid escalating tensions. The very fate of the Minsk process is at stake.”

TASS later reported on the coordination of measures to maintain the ceasefire: “The Contact Group held a video conference on Wednesday and agreed on additional measures to control the ceasefire along the line of contact.” They also covered the implementation of the measures, reflecting on the long negotiation history.

Vesti.ru published a statement from Russia’s envoy to the Contact Group: “Russia is satisfied with the new ceasefire agreement between Kyiv and Donbass. Boris Gryzlov, Russia’s representative to the Contact Group, credited Moscow’s firm stance.” They also featured a report from Donbass after the truce took effect: “For the first time in a long while, the night passed quietly in Donbass — no gunfire, no explosions. As of midnight on July 27, a full and comprehensive ceasefire began.”

RT Russian briefly reported on the agreements: “Today’s session yielded long-awaited results in agreeing on and approving a package of additional ceasefire monitoring measures, setting key obligations for both sides.” On July 27, the outlet published an in-depth piece titled “Kyiv Doesn’t Control the Front Line: A Comprehensive Ceasefire Takes Effect in Donbass,” analyzing the agreements’ background, the situation at the line of contact, and previous failed truces.

Izvestia covered the agreement on ceasefire monitoring, listing key points and Kyiv’s proposal to change the format of the Contact Group. They also reported on the implementation of ceasefire measures in DPR, LPR, and Ukraine: “On July 26, DPR military commander Denis Sinenkov stated that forces received orders to observe the ceasefire. Use of any weapons, including small arms, was prohibited.”

Interfax noted that, due to the pandemic, the negotiations took place via videoconference. The outlet released a detailed report on the ceasefire and both sides’ statements, including Ukraine’s creation of reserves “in case the ceasefire is violated.”

Donetsk News Agency (DAN) closely followed the Contact Group’s work and issued several reports:

• “Contact Group Adopts Additional Ceasefire Monitoring Measures – DPR Foreign Ministry”
• “Kyiv Blocks Contact Group’s Work on Election Issue – DPR Foreign Ministry”
• “Ban on Offensives and Drone Flights: Additional Ceasefire Control Measures Published”
• Upon implementation of the agreements, the agency reported further details and revisited past truce efforts.

Lugansk Information Center issued updates on the negotiation process:

• “Contact Group Begins Video Conference – Deinego”
• “LPR Foreign Ministry Statement on Contact Group's Approval of Additional Ceasefire Measures”
• “Contact Group Agrees to Introduce Extra Ceasefire Monitoring Measures Starting July 27 – Deinego”

On July 27, as the ceasefire took effect, they reported:

• “Radicals Urge Ukrainian Forces to Sabotage the Ceasefire Agreements – People’s Militia”
• “UAF and Media Preparing Fake Stories to Accuse LPR of Shelling – People’s Militia”
• “Kyiv’s Claims that Donbass Broke the Ceasefire Are Provocations – People’s Militia”

British outlets The Guardian and The Telegraph, as well as The New York Times, did not report on the event.

Le Figaro briefly mentioned the truce in a piece about a phone call between Putin and Zelensky: “Ukraine and Russia welcome peace efforts ahead of the ceasefire.”

Italian outlets did not cover the story, but Vatican News published: “Following the ceasefire agreement endorsed by the Contact Group and welcomed yesterday by the Pope during Sunday’s Angelus, a series of concrete steps must now follow to strengthen peace and find solutions to the region’s territorial sovereignty issues.”

Deutsche Welle (Spanish edition) presented official statements from Ukraine, DPR, and LPR: “The first hours of the reinforced ceasefire, which took effect last night in eastern Ukraine, passed without incident, according to Ukrainian and pro-Russian authorities.” They also offered background on the conflict and negotiation process.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat led with: “Russian-backed rebels violated the ceasefire within minutes.” The piece also gave a brief overview of the conflict and the Putin-Zelensky talks.

Ukrainska Pravda reported on preparations for the ceasefire: “The military command assured that to keep both the Ukrainian public and international community informed, local and foreign media crews were authorized to work on various segments of the contact line in Donetsk and Lugansk regions.”

UNIAN covered the new agreements and noted that Ukrainian troops retained the right to return fire: “The military high command and President Zelensky emphasized that the new ceasefire does not prohibit Ukrainian troops from returning fire if necessary.”