What was the Minsk agreement?

· A ceasefire signed by Ukraine and pro-Russian separatist rebels on 5 September 2014 in Minsk, Belarus

· They agreed to 12 points including pulling back heavy guns by at least 15km (9 miles), releasing prisoners, allowing access to international observers, and setting up a buffer zone on the Russia-Ukraine border. Foreign mercenaries were to withdraw and Donetsk and Luhansk would get wider self-rule

· But military clashes never entirely stopped. Each side accused the other of violating the deal and violence later flared the length of the ceasefire line

· Rebels also held their own local elections in November 2014, in defiance of Kiev. The government responded by saying it would scrap partial autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk

fall to- приступить;приниматься

(за что-л.)

shoot down - сбивать

leading up to- приближаясь к

stance- позиция

senior Republicans- влиятельные республиканцы

demilitarized zone- демилитаризованная зона

hollow promises- пустые обещания

газета "Аль-Ахрам"

coup d'etat -[ ]