On March 2, 2018, students in the Carleton University graduate course on the EU and its Eastern Neighbours, produced the following agreement as a result of a simulation exercise. In the exercise student participants represented the following actors in the simulation: OSCE (moderator); European Union; Russian Federation; Government of Ukraine; representations of the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine; France; and the Federal Republic of Germany.
This following document was concluded by the simulation participants:
Minsk III Simulation Agreement
- Immediate and full ceasefire in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and its strict fulfilment as of 00:00 midnight EET on 15 March 2018.
- Pull-out of all heavy weapons by both sides to equal distance with the aim of creation of a security zone on minimum 50 kilometres (31 mi) apart for artillery of 100mm calibre or more, and a security zone of 70 kilometres (43 mi) for multiple rocket launchers (MRLS) and 140 kilometres (87 mi) for MLRS Tornado-S, Uragan, Smerch, and Tochka U tactical missile systems:
- for Ukrainian troops, from actual line of contact;
- for armed formations of particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, from the contact line in accordance with the Minsk Memorandum as of 19 September 2014;
- The pullout of the above-mentioned heavy weapons must start no later than the second day after the start of the ceasefire and finish within 14 days. This process will be assisted by OSCE.
- Effective monitoring and verification of ceasefire regime and pullout of heavy weapons by OSCE will be provided from the first day of pullout, using all necessary technical means such as satellites, drones, radio-location systems etc.
- Introduction of UN peacekeeping troops to oversee demilitarisation and establishment of a stationed trust-building and monitoring committee led by Ukrainian officials and including Russian, Donetsk, Luhansk, OSCE, and EU delegates. Such a committee would oversee implementation of current agreement, coordinate with the UN mission and establish a timeframe and procedure for local elections.
- On the first day after the pullout a dialogue is to start a discussion, within the monitoring committee on modalities of conducting local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and the Law of Ukraine “On temporary Order of Local Self-Governance in Particular Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts,” and also about the future of these districts based on the above-mentioned law. Without delays, and accordingly to OSCE approval, a resolution has to be approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, indicating the territory which falls under the special regime in accordance with the law “On temporary Order of Local Self-Governance in Particular Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts,” based in the line set up by the Minsk Memorandum as of 19 September 2014.
- Provide pardon and amnesty by way of enacting a law that forbids persecution and punishment of persons in relation to events that took place in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine. No leaders of current formation will run in the elections, the current bodies in Donetsk and Luhansk will be dissolved, and there will be an age restriction for candidates (up to the age of 30).
- Provide release and exchange of all hostages and illegally held persons, based on the principle of “all for all”. This process has to end – at the latest – on the fifth day after the pullout (of weapons).
- Provide safe access, delivery, storage and distribution of humanitarian aid to the needy, based on an international mechanism.
- Define the modalities of a full restoration of social and economic connections, including social transfers, such as payments of pensions and other payments (income and revenue, timely payment of communal bills, restoration of tax payments within the framework of Ukrainian legal field). With this aim, Ukraine will restore management over the segment of its banking system in the districts affected by the conflict, and possibly, an international mechanism will be established to ease such transactions.