The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadim Pristayko announced the postponement of the start of the withdrawal of forces in the Donbass due to violation of the ceasefire.
“A few days ago both Petrovskoye and Zolotoe were bombarded. And our decision was that the breeding would begin on the seventh day after peace was maintained in these areas, there would be no shelling. Therefore, we need to wait until the next seven-day period passes, which should prove that the parties have serious intentions”, – Pristayko said at a briefing.
According to preliminary agreements, the Ukrainian security forces and militias of the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass had to withdraw forces from the contact line within 30 days, dismantle the fortifications and clear the territory.
It was assumed that each of the parties to the conflict would withdraw its forces to a distance of not less than a kilometer from the contact line under the supervision of the OSCE mission.
The representative of the DPR in the Joint Center for Monitoring and Coordination of the Ceasefire noted that the schedule for the separation of forces was agreed at a meeting in Minsk.
On Monday, the parties were supposed to transmit information to the observers about the whereabouts of the forces and assets and where they would be assigned. Breeding itself was expected to begin on Wednesday.