Kiev, Rebels Agree to Extra Measures to Ensure Ukraine Ceasefire
KIEV (Reuters) - Pro-Russian separatists and representatives from Kiev and Moscow agreed on Saturday on further measures to ensure a ceasefire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists.
Violations of a Sept. 5 cease-fire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists, whom Kiev says have been reinforced by Russian weapons and soldiers crossing over the two countries' porous border, have kept Ukrainian troops on full alert.
Former president Leonid Kuchma, representing Kiev at talks of the "contact group", said the two sides had agreed to move artillery 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from the front line on both sides, to create a 30 kilometer (18 mile) buffer zone.
"Heavy artillery will be moved 15 kilometers away from the front line," said Kuchma after the talks that lasted several hours in a hotel in central Minsk.
Former president Leonid Kuchma, representing Kiev at talks of the "contact group", said the two sides had agreed to move artillery 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from the front line on both sides, to create a 30 kilometer (18 mile) buffer zone.
"Heavy artillery will be moved 15 kilometers away from the front line," said Kuchma after the talks that lasted several hours in a hotel in central Minsk.