Time bought to build real lasting peace - Ceasefire agreed in Belarus

IT is far too early to celebrate the agreement aimed at ending the war in Ukraine reached after difficult talks in Belarus between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.

It is not however too early to feel a deep sense of immediate relief and guarded optimism. A nasty regional conflict, one characterised by cruelty and dishonesty, was quickly sliding towards the point where it might run out of control and ensnare interests not already directly involved.

It would be peace-in-our-time foolishness to pretend that consequences of such an acceleration would be anything other than catastrophic.