The Minsk Agreements (I and II)

This document contains the text of the two Minsk Agreements, which were a series of international agreements seeking to end the war in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

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The Minsk Protocol (Minsk I)

Minsk, Belarus - 5 September 2014

The Minsk Protocol was the result of a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, which consisted of representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The agreement was signed by representatives of the Trilateral Contact Group and by the then-leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.

The 12 points of the Minsk Protocol:

1. To ensure an immediate bilateral ceasefire.
2. To ensure the monitoring and verification of the ceasefire by the OSCE.
3. To carry out decentralisation of power, including through the adoption of a Ukrainian law on “temporary order of local self-governance in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts”.
4. To ensure the permanent monitoring of the Ukrainian-Russian border and verification by the OSCE with the creation of security zones in the border regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
5. To release all hostages and illegally detained persons without delay.
6. To adopt a law preventing the prosecution and punishment of persons in connection with the events that took place in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
7. To continue the inclusive national dialogue.
8. To take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Donbas.
9. To ensure early local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian law on “temporary order of local self-governance in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts”.
10. To withdraw illegal armed groups and military equipment as well as fighters and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine.
11. To adopt a programme of economic recovery and reconstruction for the Donbas region.
12. To provide personal security for participants in the consultations.

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Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements (Minsk II)

Minsk, Belarus - 12 February 2015

Minsk II was a package of measures to revive the Minsk Protocol. It was agreed to by the Trilateral Contact Group and signed by the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The agreement was negotiated at a summit in Minsk, Belarus, by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany (the “Normandy Format”).

The 13 points of Minsk II:

1. Immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and its strict implementation as of 15 February 2015, 00:00 midnight EET.
2. Withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides to equal distances in order to create a security zone of at least 50 km wide for artillery systems of 100 mm caliber or more, a security zone of 70 km for multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) and a security zone of 140 km for MLRS “Tornado-S”, “Uragan”, “Smerch” and tactical missile systems “Tochka” (“Tochka U”).
3. Effective monitoring and verification of the ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons by the OSCE from the first day of the withdrawal, using all necessary technical means such as satellites, drones, radio-location systems, etc.
4. On the first day after the withdrawal, a dialogue is to start on modalities of conducting local elections in accordance with 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 law.
5. Provide pardon and amnesty by enacting a law prohibiting prosecution and punishment of persons in connection with events that took place in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine.
6. Ensure release and exchange of all hostages and unlawfully detained persons based on the principle “all for all”. This process has to be finished on the fifth day after the withdrawal at the latest.
7. Ensure safe access, delivery, storage, and distribution of humanitarian assistance to those in need, on the basis of an international mechanism.
8. Definition of modalities of a full resumption of social and economic ties, including social transfers such as pension payments and other payments (incomes and revenues, timely payments of all utility bills, reinstating taxation within the framework of the Ukrainian legal field).
9. Restoration of full control of the state border by the government of Ukraine throughout the conflict area, starting on the 1st day after the local elections and finishing after the comprehensive political settlement (local elections in particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts on the basis of the Law of Ukraine and constitutional reform) by the end of 2015, on the condition of fulfillment of Point 11 – in consultations and upon agreement with representatives of particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group.
10. Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment, as well as mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under monitoring of the OSCE. Disarmament of all illegal groups.
11. Carrying out constitutional reform in Ukraine, with a new constitution to come into effect by the end of 2015, the key element of which is decentralisation (taking into account peculiarities of particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, agreed with representatives of these districts), and also approval of permanent legislation on the special status of particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in accordance with measures as set out in the footnote, by the end of 2015.
12. Based on the Law of Ukraine “On temporary Order of Local Self-Governance in Particular Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts,” questions related to local elections will be discussed and agreed upon with representatives of particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group. Elections will be held in accordance with relevant OSCE standards and monitored by OSCE/ODIHR.
13. Intensify the work of the Trilateral Contact Group including through the establishment of working groups on the implementation of relevant aspects of the Minsk agreements. They will reflect the composition of the Trilateral Contact Group.