Ukraine separatists confirm withdrawal of heavy weapons

Pro-Russian separatists have said they will withdraw
all of their heavy weapons from the conflict zones of eastern Ukraine
later Sunday in accordance with an agreement with the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), dpa reported.

Separatist leader Vladislav Deynego was quoted by the Interfax news
agency as confirming implementation of the agreement, which
stipulates that weapons with a caliber of 100 millimetres will be
withdrawn at least three kilometres from the front lines.

The region of Donetsk also announced a withdrawal of weapons. Russia
had called on Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the front as agreed
in the February Minsk peace accord.

The separatists stressed that they would not initiate any new
strikes. "That is our unilateral step towards peace. We are showing
the whole world that we are fulfilling the Minsk agreement," Sergei
Koslov, the head of the Luhansk separatist militia, was quoted by
local media.