Ukraine says pulling back arms as UN plans emergency session

Ukraine’s military said it had started withdrawing heavy weapons from the frontline, bolstering a stuttering peace plan as the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency session Friday on the ceasefire deal. The announced pull-back - a key part of a peace deal negotiated earlier this month - comes after a shaky truce that was meant to come into force on February 15 but only took hold across the conflict zone in recent days. Ukrainian and separatist officials have noted a sharp decline in violence, although the chances of a long-lasting settlement remain clouded by lingering suspicions. While announcing the pullback, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry warned that it would revise arms withdrawal plans in the event of any attacks.

Military equipment will be returned to their positions. Any attacks on our cities and villages will be nipped in the bud.

Donetsk separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko

The pullback was supposed to have started over a week ago under a peace deal agreed upon earlier this month by the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine that has killed nearly 5,800 people since April. The intensity of fighting has declined notably in recent days, despite daily charges by both sides that the other is violating the Feb. 15 cease-fire. Rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions insist they have spent the last few days drawing back their heavy weapons — a claim not yet verified by independent observers. Donetsk separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko mirrored Ukrainian willingness to immediately resort to combat if provoked.

This is an extremely dangerous development not only for Georgia’s security, but we believe it’s very dangerous for wider European security, particularly considering the war in Ukraine.

Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgia’s Foreign Minister

Europe Ukraine