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Ukrainian Army Pulls Back From Front Line

Ukrainian Army Pulls Back From Front Line

Ukraine's army and pro-Russian separatist rebels say they have started withdrawing heavy weapons from the eastern front line, boosting hopes for a ceasefire agreed two weeks ago.

Government forces began moving 100mm anti-tank guns to the 25-km (16-mile) minimum distance from the conflict zone, agreed under the terms of the truce, spokesman for the Ukrainian military Anatoly Stelmakh said.

Numerous army tanks have since been pictured driving away from the strategic town of Debaltseve.

In an earlier statement, the army described the withdrawal as "the first step," adding that it was being carried out "under the supervision and verification of the OSCE (the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe)".

The rebels, meanwhile, insist they have pulled back the majority of their artillery, rocket launchers and missile systems from some areas, although their claims have not been officially verified.

The long-awaited withdrawal, which is designed to created a buffer zone between the two warring sides, had been due to begin shortly after the truce came into force on February 15.

But rebel forces seized Debaltseve just days later, throwing the deal into jeopardy.

Both sides accused one another of violating the terms of the ceasefire, designed to end a conflict which has killed almost 5,800 people since April.

Fighting has since died down dramatically, with Ukraine's military reporting no further fatalities on its side for the second day running.

In Rome, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hailed the downturn in violence, but renewed calls for Russia to pull out the weapons it is accused of supplying to Ukrainian separatists.

"Russia has transferred in recent months over 1,000 pieces of equipment - tanks, artillery and advanced air defence systems," he said.

"They have to withdraw this equipment and they have to stop supporting separatists."

In a further blow aimed at Russia, US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of putting in place policies that "violate all the international norms with respect to territory and behaviour".

"He has empowered, encouraged, and facilitated directly land grabs in order to try to destabilise Ukraine itself," he said.

"To date, neither Russia nor the forces it is supporting have come close to complying with their commitments."

He also renewed warnings that Moscow could face further sanctions.

In retaliation Russia, which has consistently denied supporting the rebels, said Western threats prove it is not interested in the success of the latest truce.

"Behind these calls lies the unwillingness of these figures, these relevant countries, the United States, the European Union, to seek the implementation of what was agreed," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.