The Opposition Bloc parliamentary faction in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada has proposed that the Rada pass a statement appealing to the UN to send peacekeeping forces to Donbas and start direct negotiations with Russia on joint efforts to stop the firing.

"Acknowledge the events on the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as real military activities that have led to the deaths of thousands of Ukrainians […] Hold direct negotiations with the Russian Federation on joint exhaustive efforts to stop the firing and establish peace in Ukraine," says the draft statement proposed by Opposition Bloc leader Yuriy Boiko and its member Yuriy Voropayev, which was made public on Tuesday.

They prompted the Verkhovna Rada "to call on the United Nations Organization to delegate UN peacekeeping forces to guarantee durable peace and security of the population within the military actions area."

The Opposition Bloc also suggested that the Rada immediately restore transport links with Donetsk and Luhansk regions along with introducing terrorism prevention mechanisms and take all possible measures to resume humanitarian and social aid to Ukrainians staying in the military conflict areas. Among these measures, the statement mentions the resumption of social payments, relief provision mechanisms, and the functioning of Ukrainian media outlets on the entire territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The Opposition Bloc has also urged the Verkhovna Rada "to appeal to the OSCE, UN and other international organizations to conduct an impartial investigation into all terrorist attacks and facts of violence and present results to the public and also identify those responsible for these crimes" and "appeal to foreign countries to immediately render aid to Ukraine to restore Donbas's economy and industrial potential that have been affected by the military activities."