· 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 -[ ]
ousting- [ ] снимать с должности, выгнать
scrap - отменять, разрывать договор, отдать на слом
heavy guns- тяжёлое орудие, тяжёлая артиллерия
Foreign mercenaries [ ] - иностранные наёмники
self-rule- самоуправление
in defiance of- не считаясь с, вопреки