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| Ukraine crisis: Shaky ceasefire holds as talks expected | Ukraine crisis: Shaky ceasefire holds as talks expected |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine are observing a ceasefire after weeks of bitter fighting, officials say. | Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine are observing a ceasefire after weeks of bitter fighting, officials say. |
| Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had earlier called for a "Day of Silence", to make a widely-violated ceasefire deal stick. | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had earlier called for a "Day of Silence", to make a widely-violated ceasefire deal stick. |
| New talks between the rebels and the government could take place in Belarus in the coming days. | New talks between the rebels and the government could take place in Belarus in the coming days. |
| Russia has resumed gas supplies to Ukraine after months of tough talks. | Russia has resumed gas supplies to Ukraine after months of tough talks. |
| Ukrainian pipeline operator Ukrtransgaz says up to 43.5m cubic metres (1.5bn cu ft) will be imported daily, to prevent winter shortages. | Ukrainian pipeline operator Ukrtransgaz says up to 43.5m cubic metres (1.5bn cu ft) will be imported daily, to prevent winter shortages. |
| Ukraine has paid Russia's Gazprom $378m (£242m; €308m) in advance for December deliveries, officials say. | Ukraine has paid Russia's Gazprom $378m (£242m; €308m) in advance for December deliveries, officials say. |
| Russia cut off Ukraine's gas in June as the conflict between the government in Kiev and the rebels in the east escalated. But a new gas deal was reached through EU mediation in October. | Russia cut off Ukraine's gas in June as the conflict between the government in Kiev and the rebels in the east escalated. But a new gas deal was reached through EU mediation in October. |
| Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of supplying heavy weapons and troops to the rebels - something Moscow has repeatedly denied. | Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of supplying heavy weapons and troops to the rebels - something Moscow has repeatedly denied. |
| The warring sides signed a truce in Minsk in September, but more than 1,000 people have been killed in fighting since then, the UN says. | The warring sides signed a truce in Minsk in September, but more than 1,000 people have been killed in fighting since then, the UN says. |
| Some of the heaviest fighting has raged at Donetsk airport. | Some of the heaviest fighting has raged at Donetsk airport. |
| The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday a ceasefire had begun in "all the positions of the anti-terrorist operation forces", Interfax Ukraine news agency reported. | The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday a ceasefire had begun in "all the positions of the anti-terrorist operation forces", Interfax Ukraine news agency reported. |
| The pro-Russian separatists had also laid down their arms at 09:00 (07:00 GMT) across eastern Ukraine, Russia's Ria Novosti agency said. | The pro-Russian separatists had also laid down their arms at 09:00 (07:00 GMT) across eastern Ukraine, Russia's Ria Novosti agency said. |
| Mr Poroshenko said last week that troops would observe the Day of Silence on Tuesday to try to boost the peace deal. | Mr Poroshenko said last week that troops would observe the Day of Silence on Tuesday to try to boost the peace deal. |
| Since the conflict began in April, more than 4,300 people have died with almost one million displaced, the UN says. | Since the conflict began in April, more than 4,300 people have died with almost one million displaced, the UN says. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Kiev must not renege on a pledge to give "special status" to the rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk areas in the east. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Kiev must not renege on a pledge to give "special status" to the rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk areas in the east. |
| Speaking to Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, he said Mr Poroshenko had called for that status to be cancelled - a move that would "only strengthen the distrust between the sides, complicating their already difficult dialogue". | Speaking to Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, he said Mr Poroshenko had called for that status to be cancelled - a move that would "only strengthen the distrust between the sides, complicating their already difficult dialogue". |
| He also accused Kiev of blocking financial co-operation with the rebel-held areas. | He also accused Kiev of blocking financial co-operation with the rebel-held areas. |
| Talks in doubt | Talks in doubt |
| Authorities in Minsk said they had not received any confirmation that either the Ukrainian government or rebel representatives would attend new peace talks, which were planned to begin on Tuesday. | Authorities in Minsk said they had not received any confirmation that either the Ukrainian government or rebel representatives would attend new peace talks, which were planned to begin on Tuesday. |
| Russian media reports say that the talks may now begin on Friday instead, but this has not been confirmed. | Russian media reports say that the talks may now begin on Friday instead, but this has not been confirmed. |
| The previous Minsk agreement, brokered in September, projected a 30km (18 mile) military buffer zone in the east and limited self-rule for the separatists. | The previous Minsk agreement, brokered in September, projected a 30km (18 mile) military buffer zone in the east and limited self-rule for the separatists. |
| However, the rebels then held leadership elections on 2 November that Ukraine and the West refused to recognise. | However, the rebels then held leadership elections on 2 November that Ukraine and the West refused to recognise. |
| There have been near-daily clashes and exchanges of heavy weapons fire, leaving hundreds dead. | There have been near-daily clashes and exchanges of heavy weapons fire, leaving hundreds dead. |
| Meanwhile, the last pieces of wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine, have arrived in the Netherlands for investigation. | Meanwhile, the last pieces of wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine, have arrived in the Netherlands for investigation. |
| Ukraine and its allies have accused Russia of supplying the missile used to bring down the plane, while Russia has denied involvement. | Ukraine and its allies have accused Russia of supplying the missile used to bring down the plane, while Russia has denied involvement. |
| A total of 298 people died when the plane came down in July. | A total of 298 people died when the plane came down in July. |
| The Ukraine crisis began a year ago, when then-President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an agreement on closer trade ties with EU in favour of closer co-operation with Russia. | The Ukraine crisis began a year ago, when then-President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an agreement on closer trade ties with EU in favour of closer co-operation with Russia. |
| This decision sparked pro-EU protests in the capital Kiev, eventually toppling Mr Yanukovych in February. | This decision sparked pro-EU protests in the capital Kiev, eventually toppling Mr Yanukovych in February. |
| In the weeks that followed, Russia annexed Crimea, in Ukraine's south, and pro-Russian separatists took control of Donetsk and Luhansk, declaring independence. | In the weeks that followed, Russia annexed Crimea, in Ukraine's south, and pro-Russian separatists took control of Donetsk and Luhansk, declaring independence. |
| The crisis has caused a serious rift between Russia and Ukraine's Western supporters. | The crisis has caused a serious rift between Russia and Ukraine's Western supporters. |