Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels begin Donetsk arms withdrawal

AFP, DONETSK: Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian insurgents said Tuesday they had begun withdrawing tanks and smaller weapons from the frontline splitting the devastated Donetsk region in the ex-Soviet state's eastern war zone.
The pullback follows similar arms movements in the smaller separatist Lugansk province and falls in line with the terms of a new truce agreement struck by the warring sides on September 1.
The de-escalation -- if it holds -- would mark an important step in finally halting an 18-month conflict that
has killed more than 8,000 people and plunged Russia's relations with the United States and Europe to a post-Cold War low.
It would also provide an important boost to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande's repeated efforts to find a solution to Europe's deadliest conflict since the 1990s Balkans wars.
"The withdrawal has already started," Ukrainian military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said in a statement. "At this very moment, we are withdrawing from around Debaltseve."
The militias seized the strategic village in a daring February offensive that left Ukrainian troops surrounded and forced to beat a humiliating retreat.

 

Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels begin Donetsk arms withdrawal

AFP, DONETSK: Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian insurgents said Tuesday they had begun withdrawing tanks and smaller weapons from the frontline splitting the devastated Donetsk region in the ex-Soviet states eastern war zone. The pullback follows similar arms movements in the smaller separatist Lugansk province and falls in line with the terms of a new truce agreement struck by the warring sides on September 1. The de-escalation -- if it holds -- would mark an important step in finally halting an 18-month conflict that has killed more than 8,000 people and plunged Russias relations with the United States and Europe to a post-Cold War low. It would also provide an important boost to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollandes repeated efforts to find a solution to Europes deadliest conflict since the 1990s Balkans wars. The withdrawal has already started, Ukrainian military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said in a statement. At this very moment, we are withdrawing from around Debaltseve. The militias seized the strategic village in a daring February offensive that left Ukrainian troops surrounded and forced to beat a humiliating retreat.