A row over natural gas supply flared Friday between Russia and Ukraine, even as a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine appeared to be taking hold.
Both sides in the conflict have begun withdrawing their heavy weaponry from the front line in line with a peace deal agreed in Minsk, Belarus, two weeks ago.
There has also been a reduction in the fighting between the two sides, although some artillery fire can still be heard. But the ceasefire remains fragile.
A spokesman for Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko cited him as saying on Twitter: “We starting withdrawing only some of the heavy weaponry. Ukrainian military are ready to return the equipment to the front line any time.”
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But he stressed that although there some progress has been seen in the withdrawal of heavy weapons, “it is important to consolidate it.”
He also warned that Ukraine must keep its non-aligned status “in order to keep the stability in Europe.”
Russia is unhappy about what it sees as NATO’s expansion toward its western border. Ukraine is not a NATO member but Baltic nations bordering Russia belong to the alliance and Georgia also hopes to join.
CNN’s Diana Magnay reported from Donetsk and Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported from London. CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen and journalist Victoria Butenko contributed from Kiev. CNN’s Radina Gigova and Ivana Kottasova also contributed.
