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Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian separatists withdraw tanks | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they have begun withdrawing tanks from the line of contact with Ukrainian government troops. | |
They say the movement is in accordance with a peace deal agreed in Minsk in February and is being monitored by international observers. | |
Both sides have committed to pulling out weapons of less than 100mm (4in) calibre. | |
Moscow denies sending troops and heavy weapons to the pro-Russian separatists. | Moscow denies sending troops and heavy weapons to the pro-Russian separatists. |
However, the Kremlin admits that Russian "volunteers" are fighting alongside the rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | However, the Kremlin admits that Russian "volunteers" are fighting alongside the rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
The plan for the withdrawal was announced at a meeting of leaders from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany on Friday. | |
Rocket launcher | |
In a separate development, international monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said in a statement on Friday they spotted the powerful TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launcher in Luhansk. | |
A spokesman for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine told the BBC the discovery was particularly significant because of the damage the rockets could cause. | A spokesman for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine told the BBC the discovery was particularly significant because of the damage the rockets could cause. |
The rebels have not commented on the OSCE report. | The rebels have not commented on the OSCE report. |
Ukraine crisis: Russia tests new weapons | Ukraine crisis: Russia tests new weapons |
Ukraine 'can't stop Russian armour' | Ukraine 'can't stop Russian armour' |
'Synchronised watches' | 'Synchronised watches' |
In Paris, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko, France's Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the first time since they agreed a peace deal for Ukraine in Minsk in February. | In Paris, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko, France's Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the first time since they agreed a peace deal for Ukraine in Minsk in February. |
The so-called Normandy Four meeting assessed all elements of the deal, including the staging of local elections in the rebel-held regions and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact. | The so-called Normandy Four meeting assessed all elements of the deal, including the staging of local elections in the rebel-held regions and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact. |
After the meeting, Mr Hollande said the pullout would start on Friday, with Mr Poroshenko later confirming this in a statement (in Ukrainian). | After the meeting, Mr Hollande said the pullout would start on Friday, with Mr Poroshenko later confirming this in a statement (in Ukrainian). |
The government in Kiev and the pro-Russian rebels earlier finally agreed to withdraw weapons of less than 100mm calibre from the front line. | The government in Kiev and the pro-Russian rebels earlier finally agreed to withdraw weapons of less than 100mm calibre from the front line. |
Mr Poroshenko said this process would then continue in stages and should be completed within 41 days. | Mr Poroshenko said this process would then continue in stages and should be completed within 41 days. |
He said the pullout would include not just artillery pieces "but also tanks and mortars". | He said the pullout would include not just artillery pieces "but also tanks and mortars". |
Regarding the elections in the rebel-held areas, the French leader said they must be held according to Ukrainian law, as envisaged in the Minsk peace deal. | Regarding the elections in the rebel-held areas, the French leader said they must be held according to Ukrainian law, as envisaged in the Minsk peace deal. |
This point was reiterated by Mrs Merkel, who also noticed "progress" during the talks. | This point was reiterated by Mrs Merkel, who also noticed "progress" during the talks. |
Mr Poroshenko said the four leaders had supported the idea of the elections based exclusively on Ukrainian legislation and in the presence of OSCE observers, who should be granted full access. | Mr Poroshenko said the four leaders had supported the idea of the elections based exclusively on Ukrainian legislation and in the presence of OSCE observers, who should be granted full access. |
However, the rebels said before the Paris talks that they still intended to proceed with staging local elections on their terms. | However, the rebels said before the Paris talks that they still intended to proceed with staging local elections on their terms. |
Kiev says such elections - to be held on different dates from the rest of Ukraine and not according to Ukrainian law - would be "fake". | Kiev says such elections - to be held on different dates from the rest of Ukraine and not according to Ukrainian law - would be "fake". |
President Putin's office did not provide details of the Paris talks, saying only in a brief statement that the participants "synchronised watches" on the implementation of the key points of the Minsk deal. | President Putin's office did not provide details of the Paris talks, saying only in a brief statement that the participants "synchronised watches" on the implementation of the key points of the Minsk deal. |
A ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding since September, although there have been reports of occasional shelling. | A ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding since September, although there have been reports of occasional shelling. |
The clashes in the region began in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. | The clashes in the region began in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. |