Insurgents lay out proposals to end crisis

KIEV - The leaders of independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine have outlined a roadmap to put an end to military confrontation with government troops, local media reported Thursday.

Putin outlines ceasefire plan to settle Ukraine crisis

In a statement, which was published by Interfax news agency, insurgent leaders have called for an end of the government's military operation in the east and urged Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms and reach a ceasefire.

As part of their truce proposal, insurgents suggested to impose a ban on combat aviation flights over the territory of the self- proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

In addition, the rebels said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have to monitor compliance with the terms of the ceasefire that are expected to be agreed on Friday.

"We propose to divide the security area into five sectors, allowing up to 40 observer mission representatives to be deployed in each sector," said the statement.

The "security area" should be equipped with surveillance means and communication tools, it said.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he was ready to order a ceasefire with insurgents if international mediators agree on it during their upcoming meeting in Minsk.

On Friday, representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are scheduled to hold talks in the Belarusian capital to search for political ways out of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which had killed over 2,600 people.