Despite
ongoing violations of a ceasefire agreement, both sides in the Ukraine conflict
have agreed to start moving back their tanks and heavy artillery from the
front. The step comes on the heels of a prisoner exchange.
Deutsche Welle, 22 Feb 2015
Separatists sitting on a tank |
The
Ukrainian military and the pro-Russian separatists agreed to pull back their
heavy weapons from the front, in accordance with a UN-backed truce signed
earlier in the month in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, both sides confirmed
separately on Sunday.
"The
papers have been signed to begin withdrawing heavy weapons all along the
frontline," General Olexander Rozmaznin told the press. He added that it
was too early to say when the pullback would start, but some Ukrainian media
suggested it could begin later on Sunday.
The rebels
confirmed in press releases and statements to Russian media that they too had
signed the agreement. "The plan was signed last night. Starting from today
there are two weeks to withdraw heavy weapons," Russian news agency
Interfax quoted senior commander Eduard Basurin as saying.
Under the
terms of the Minsk truce, mediated by Germany and France and technically in
effect for a week, the removal of weapons from the front was meant to have
started on Tuesday and be finished by March 3. Up until now, however, the truce
has repeatedly been violated. The rebels notably ignored the ceasefire saying it
did not apply to the strategic town of Debaltseve, from which they forced
Ukrainian troops this week.
However,
the agreement to withdraw heavy weapons is the second positive sign in two days
that parts of the ceasefire may be holding - a prisoner exchange, another key
element of the Minsk agreement, took place overnight in which 139 government
soldiers and 52 rebel fighters were released. Despite the Ukrainian military
accusing the rebels of launching rockets at several of their checkpoints in the
east over Saturday night, the level of violence across eastern Ukraine has
decreased since the ceasefire came into effect.
es/sms (AFP, Reuters)
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