Western European leaders voiced cautious optimism after hammering out a Ukraine peace plan in Minsk on Thursday, hailed as a great victory by pro-Russian rebels but met with scepticism by war-weary civilians.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was a driving force behind the negotiations, along with French President Francois Hollande, said she had "no illusions" and that "big hurdles" remained in ending the 10-month conflict.
"We now have a glimmer of hope," she said in the Belarussian capital, adding that "concrete steps must of course be taken and there will still be big hurdles ahead".
"I have no illusions, we have no illusions," she said, adding that "much work" remained.
Hollande said the deal included a "comprehensive political solution" and provided "serious hope, even if all is not done".
The next few hours would be critical to the deal, Hollande later said on arriving in Brussels for a European Union summit. He added that it was essential to keep up pressure to ensure the accord's success.
"The next few hours will be decisive as it could go either way," Hollande said. "We will have to remain vigilant, to maintain the pressure and to press ahead."
- Difficult birth -
Merkel's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it represented neither "a comprehensive solution" nor a "breakthrough".
He said he welcomed the truce plan but "without any exuberance" since "it was a difficult birth".
"For some it will not be enough. Also we would have wished for more," he said, voicing hopes that both sides had negotiated "seriously and with good intentions".
British Premier David Cameron welcomed the new accord but said EU sanctions against Russia would remain in place until real change took place.
"Vladimir Putin needs to know that unless his behaviour changes, the sanctions we have in place won't be altered," Cameron said.
"If this is a genuine ceasefire then that would be welcome but what matters most of all is actions," he added.
European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said "it's not the time for sanctions." Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also said that instead of new sanctions she wanted to see "positive ways in which the EU can contribute."
But Finland's prime minister, Alexander Stubb, was cautious.
"We are in a make-or-break situation. If this does not last then we will see a frozen situation between Russia and the West for the foreseeable future," Stubb said.
"Let's now stick to the ceasefire strictly and hope for the best, to try and normalise relations with (Russia) for the future," he said.
The leaders of the heavily armed rebels pushing government forces out of eastern Ukraine saw a ground-breaking deal.
- Not my best night -
The Ukraine peace deal gives "hope for a peaceful resolution" of the 10-month conflict and for development in rebel regions, pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko said.
"This is a great victory for (self-proclaimed rebel regions) the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic," he told the separatists' news agency.
"We cannot but give Ukraine this chance, the whole country will change," fellow rebel leader Igor Plotnitsky said after the two signed the deal.
Putin joked about the sleepless night in Minsk, but said he was pleased.
"It wasn't the best night of my life but the morning, in my opinion, is a good one because despite all the complexities of the negotiating process we still managed to agree on the main points," he said.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that "the contact group signed a document that we prepared with a great deal of tension."
Civilians living in the war-torn rebel fiefdom of Donetsk met the announcement without enthusiasm.
"I don't believe in it at all," said Lyubov, 62, who would not give her last name. "Every time they sign an agreement, they say one thing and do another. I no longer trust anyone."
"I hope that this will be a real ceasefire," said Olena Ivashova, 30, who lives in the heavily damaged Donetsk neighbourhood of Tekstilnik.
"I'm so afraid that I haven't been out in three weeks," she said.
Western European leaders voiced cautious optimism after hammering out a Ukraine peace plan in Minsk on Thursday, hailed as a great victory by pro-Russian rebels but met with scepticism by war-weary civilians.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was a driving force behind the negotiations, along with French President Francois Hollande, said she had “no illusions” and that “big hurdles” remained in ending the 10-month conflict.
“We now have a glimmer of hope,” she said in the Belarussian capital, adding that “concrete steps must of course be taken and there will still be big hurdles ahead”.
“I have no illusions, we have no illusions,” she said, adding that “much work” remained.
Hollande said the deal included a “comprehensive political solution” and provided “serious hope, even if all is not done”.
The next few hours would be critical to the deal, Hollande later said on arriving in Brussels for a European Union summit. He added that it was essential to keep up pressure to ensure the accord’s success.
“The next few hours will be decisive as it could go either way,” Hollande said. “We will have to remain vigilant, to maintain the pressure and to press ahead.”
– Difficult birth –
Merkel’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it represented neither “a comprehensive solution” nor a “breakthrough”.
He said he welcomed the truce plan but “without any exuberance” since “it was a difficult birth”.
“For some it will not be enough. Also we would have wished for more,” he said, voicing hopes that both sides had negotiated “seriously and with good intentions”.
British Premier David Cameron welcomed the new accord but said EU sanctions against Russia would remain in place until real change took place.
“Vladimir Putin needs to know that unless his behaviour changes, the sanctions we have in place won’t be altered,” Cameron said.
“If this is a genuine ceasefire then that would be welcome but what matters most of all is actions,” he added.
European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said “it’s not the time for sanctions.” Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also said that instead of new sanctions she wanted to see “positive ways in which the EU can contribute.”
But Finland’s prime minister, Alexander Stubb, was cautious.
“We are in a make-or-break situation. If this does not last then we will see a frozen situation between Russia and the West for the foreseeable future,” Stubb said.
“Let’s now stick to the ceasefire strictly and hope for the best, to try and normalise relations with (Russia) for the future,” he said.
The leaders of the heavily armed rebels pushing government forces out of eastern Ukraine saw a ground-breaking deal.
– Not my best night –
The Ukraine peace deal gives “hope for a peaceful resolution” of the 10-month conflict and for development in rebel regions, pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko said.
“This is a great victory for (self-proclaimed rebel regions) the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic,” he told the separatists’ news agency.
“We cannot but give Ukraine this chance, the whole country will change,” fellow rebel leader Igor Plotnitsky said after the two signed the deal.
Putin joked about the sleepless night in Minsk, but said he was pleased.
“It wasn’t the best night of my life but the morning, in my opinion, is a good one because despite all the complexities of the negotiating process we still managed to agree on the main points,” he said.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that “the contact group signed a document that we prepared with a great deal of tension.”
Civilians living in the war-torn rebel fiefdom of Donetsk met the announcement without enthusiasm.
“I don’t believe in it at all,” said Lyubov, 62, who would not give her last name. “Every time they sign an agreement, they say one thing and do another. I no longer trust anyone.”
“I hope that this will be a real ceasefire,” said Olena Ivashova, 30, who lives in the heavily damaged Donetsk neighbourhood of Tekstilnik.
“I’m so afraid that I haven’t been out in three weeks,” she said.
