Kyiv, February 23, 2015 – The Ukrainian Armed Forces will only start to withdraw heavy weapons after the Russian regulars and its proxies will stop firing at the positions of our servicemen. “Comprehensive ceasefire is the very first stage of the peace plan. Once the militants stop firing at our positions, we shall embark on the implementation of the second stage. Currently there is no full and durable ceasefire intact,” said Vladyslav Seleznyov, acting spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The first paragraph of the Minsk Protocol demands ceasefire for all belligerents to be implemented within one day. Only afterwards the sides are going to withdraw heavy weapons and military equipment from the delineation line. “Given that Ukrainian Armed Forces still come under fire, the withdrawal of our heavy weapons is not on the agenda at the moment,” explained Vladyslav Seleznyov. According to Mr. Seleznyov, the Ukrainian forces completed all necessary preparations for the withdrawal of heavy equipment.