Ukraine disputes rebel claim that weapons pullback has started, Russian-backed separatists moved some heavy weapons well back from the front line Tuesday in eastern Ukraine, but the Ukrainian government disputed the rebels' claim that a real pullback had begun.
A peace plan worked out in marathon talks on Feb. 12 aims to create a wide buffer zone between the two sides' artillery, part of efforts to end the conflict that has left nearly 5,800 dead since April. Heavy weapons are to be pulled back 15 to 45 miles from the front line, depending on their caliber.
The disagreement over a weapons pullback came as the fragile peace deal for Ukraine was discussed in Paris by the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. The talks ended without apparent progress, although the participants pledged adherence to the peace deal.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters that rebel shelling of Ukrainian positions had to stop before Ukraine started withdrawing its artillery. "You can't pull out ... while shelling is coming down on you," he said.More Read
A peace plan worked out in marathon talks on Feb. 12 aims to create a wide buffer zone between the two sides' artillery, part of efforts to end the conflict that has left nearly 5,800 dead since April. Heavy weapons are to be pulled back 15 to 45 miles from the front line, depending on their caliber.The disagreement over a weapons pullback came as the fragile peace deal for Ukraine was discussed in Paris by the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. The talks ended without apparent progress, although the participants pledged adherence to the peace deal.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters that rebel shelling of Ukrainian positions had to stop before Ukraine started withdrawing its artillery. "You can't pull out ... while shelling is coming down on you," he said.More Read
