Ukraine ceasefire comes into force

[bemildred]

Source: AFP

A ceasefire agreed between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels came into force Sunday, the first step in a fragile peace plan aimed at ending 10 months of conflict in east Ukraine.

The truce officially started at midnight Ukraine time (2200 GMT on Saturday) but surging fighting in the run-up to the ceasefire has already cast doubt on whether it will be respected.

Under the terms of the deal, inked Thursday after marathon talks in Minsk between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, the two warring sides have two days from the start of the truce to start pulling back heavy weapons from the frontline.

The last-ditch peace plan is seen as the best hope of ending the violence that has claimed at least 5,480 lives since April but scepticism remains high after the collapse of a similar previous deal.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/ukraine-ceasefire-comes-into-force/article/426094

[bemildred]

1. Ukraine: Poroshenko, rebel chief say will respect ceasefire

KIEV: Both Ukraine and the pro-Russian rebels pledged today that they are going to respect a ceasefire due to come into force, after fierce fighting plunged the truce into doubt.

Under a peace plan signed between Kiev and the rebels in Minsk Thursday after marathon talks between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, a ceasefire will start in war-torn east Ukraine at midnight (2200 GMT today).

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko confirmed he remained ready to abide by the deal in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, the French presidency said in a statement.

"The Ukrainian president assured that everything was ready for the start of the ceasefire," the presidency said in a statement.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/ukraine-poroshenko-rebel-chief-say-will-respect-ceasefire/articleshow/46248383.cms

[bemildred]

2. Obama talks cease-fire with leaders of Ukraine, Germany

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) -- President Barack Obama has spoken with the leaders of Ukraine and Germany as fighting continued between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine hours before a scheduled cease-fire.

The White House says Obama and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (por-oh-SHEHN'-koh) on Saturday stressed the need for all sides to halt the violence beginning at midnight in the region as scheduled.

The leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia agreed to the cease-fire this week after a marathon negotiating session in Belarus.

The White House says Obama, Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (AHN'-geh-lah MEHR'-kuhl) all expressed concern about intense fighting in and around the key government-held railway hub of Debaltseve.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-02-14-16-55-18

[Duckhunter935]

3. I hope both sides follow it

Lets see if they start pulling artillery back. It would be in Ukraine's interest to do this very publicly.

[bemildred]

4. That's the test.

It would be in both sides interests to do it very publically, and quickly and meticulously too.

[shenmue]

5. ...

[newthinking]

6. As usual press reports are missing crucial information. Debaltsevo is going to be a hot point.

They do not mention the press conference:

February 13, 2015 Alexander Zakharchenko press conference

"Please note that there is not a single word about Debaltsevo in the Minsk agreements. This means that Ukraine simply betrayed the 5 thousand people in the Debaltsevo cauldron. I can say the following, we will stop fire across the entire territory of Donetsk People's Republic, except for internal areas. Internal areas means Debaltsevo.

Any attempt of UAF to break out of this cauldron or deblock it will be considered a violation of the Minsk agreements, and naturally these attempts will be foiled, and the enemy will be destroyed. "

(Debaltsevo is surrounded and is behind the rebel lines).

[DeSwiss]

7. Sure hope so....

- K&R