KIEV, December 26 (Sputnik) — Kiev forces will pull back their heavy arms from the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine within 48 hours once a full ceasefire is observed, Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Oleksiy Mazepa said Friday.
"The position of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces remains unchanged in regard to the Minsk agreements. As soon as we understand and are sure that the opposing side ceases its firing for no less than 48 hours, then we will be able to start the second phase: pulling back heavy arms to a determined distance," Mazepa said during a briefing.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian military said that on December 26 the sides of the Ukrainian conflict will begin the withdrawal of heavy artillery from the separation line to create a 30-km (18.6 miles) security buffer zone as part of the ceasefire agreement. This withdrawal was brokered during the latest talks held on Wednesday in Minsk.
On December 16, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) stated that the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR respectively) had started withdrawing large caliber weapons from Ukraine's southeast, while Ukraine insists on doing the same, only following a full cessation of hostilities.
The self-proclaimed republics have been involved since April in an ongoing conflict with the current government of Ukraine after they refused to recognize its legitimacy.
