Pro-Russians withdraw arms from Ukraine frontline: Poroshenko
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says pro-Russia forces have withdrawn a "significant" amount of weaponry from the eastern Ukrainian frontlines.
Poroshenko made the announcement during a televised interview on Monday, he added that the pro-Russians' move is in accordance with the latest ceasefire deal.
"Ukraine has withdrawn the lion's share of its rocket and heavy artillery systems,” he said, adding that the pro-Russia forces have “withdrawn a significant amount."
The ceasefire, reached in February, called for both sides to pull back heavy arms before the beginning of March.
The Ukrainian president also said that 64 government troops have been killed since the ceasefire went into effect in Ukrainian’s war-torn eastern regions.
"There is a ceasefire or there isn't -- it depends on how you look at it," he added.
During peace talks in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk on February 11-12, the leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed on the withdrawal of heavy weapons from Ukraine’s frontlines and a ceasefire, which officially went into effect on February 14. The warring sides, however, have continued to engage in sporadic clashes.
Donetsk and Lugansk are two mainly Russian-speaking regions in eastern Ukraine which have been hit by deadly clashes between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian army since Kiev launched military operations in April last year to crush pro-Russia protests there.
In May 2014, the situation in the two flashpoint regions started to worsen as residents overwhelmingly voted for independence from Ukraine in referendums.
More than 6,000 people have died in the conflict, the UN says. Around 1.5 million people have also been forced from their homes over the past months of the turmoil.
SRK/NN/AS
Assange files criminal complaint against Nobel Foundation over Machado’s prize
US offers Ukraine 'strong' security guarantees amid unsettled territorial row
Russia intercepts 130 Ukrainian drones in overnight raid
Long read: Inside 2026 World Cup's intense battles promising infinite drama
17 Palestinians die from cold in Gaza as Israel keeps blocking winter aid
Iran’s intelligence database on Israel enabled precise strikes in June war: IRGC
US boat strikes kill 4 more in eastern Pacific as Trump escalates pressure on Venezuela
Assange files criminal complaint against Nobel Foundation over Machado’s prize
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Indian Prime Minister Modi addresses Ethiopia's parliament
VIDEO | Nur Shams: “How do you carry a lifetime in a bag?”
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
