Heavy weapons withdrawal to begin

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)