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Leaders Speak by Telephone to Try to Impose Ukraine Cease-Fire Leaders, in Phone Call, Seek to Find Way to Impose Truce in Ukraine
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — With the accord they brokered last week to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine seemingly in tatters, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France spoke by telephone on Thursday in an effort to find a way to impose a so-far elusive truce.MOSCOW — With the accord they brokered last week to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine seemingly in tatters, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France spoke by telephone on Thursday in an effort to find a way to impose a so-far elusive truce.
The call came a day after President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine ordered a withdrawal of forces from Debaltseve, a strategically important transportation hub that was captured by Russian-backed separatist forces in intense fighting that continued for days after the cease-fire formally took effect last weekend.The call came a day after President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine ordered a withdrawal of forces from Debaltseve, a strategically important transportation hub that was captured by Russian-backed separatist forces in intense fighting that continued for days after the cease-fire formally took effect last weekend.
None of the provisions of the peace accord, forged during an overnight negotiating session in Minsk, Belarus, have yet been carried out in line with the terms and timetable.None of the provisions of the peace accord, forged during an overnight negotiating session in Minsk, Belarus, have yet been carried out in line with the terms and timetable.
There has been no halt in fighting, with reports of battles not just in Debaltseve but throughout the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. A deadline on Tuesday for beginning the withdrawal of heavy weaponry came and went, with artillery still booming.There has been no halt in fighting, with reports of battles not just in Debaltseve but throughout the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. A deadline on Tuesday for beginning the withdrawal of heavy weaponry came and went, with artillery still booming.
In response to the continued fighting, Mr. Poroshenko late on Wednesday urged the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force — an idea swiftly rejected by Russia.In response to the continued fighting, Mr. Poroshenko late on Wednesday urged the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force — an idea swiftly rejected by Russia.
On the telephone call on Thursday, Mr. Poroshenko’s office said he had told his counterparts — Angela Merkel of Germany, François Hollande of France and Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — “Do not pretend that what happened in Debaltseve corresponds to the Minsk arrangements.”On the telephone call on Thursday, Mr. Poroshenko’s office said he had told his counterparts — Angela Merkel of Germany, François Hollande of France and Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — “Do not pretend that what happened in Debaltseve corresponds to the Minsk arrangements.”
His comments, however, only underscored how Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin have continued to view the conflict through vastly different lenses and often with completely contradictory assessments of the facts on the ground. His comments, however, only highlighted how Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Putin have continued to view the conflict through vastly different lenses and often with completely contradictory assessments of the facts on the ground.
Although hours were spent in Minsk discussing the situation in Debaltseve, no agreement had been reached on what to do about the continuing siege of the town, which lies on a main highway between the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, regional capitals and main separatist strongholds.Although hours were spent in Minsk discussing the situation in Debaltseve, no agreement had been reached on what to do about the continuing siege of the town, which lies on a main highway between the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, regional capitals and main separatist strongholds.
Separatist leaders had said that they did not regard the cease-fire as applying to Debaltseve, and Mr. Putin in his public comments appeared to accept that view, suggesting during a visit to Budapest on Tuesday that Ukraine should accept its defeat at the hands of former miners and tractor drivers. Mr. Putin has consistently denied that Russian military forces have participated in battles in Ukraine.Separatist leaders had said that they did not regard the cease-fire as applying to Debaltseve, and Mr. Putin in his public comments appeared to accept that view, suggesting during a visit to Budapest on Tuesday that Ukraine should accept its defeat at the hands of former miners and tractor drivers. Mr. Putin has consistently denied that Russian military forces have participated in battles in Ukraine.
The Kremlin, in a brief statement following Thursday’s call, offered a positive assessment of recent days. The Kremlin, in a brief statement after Thursday’s call, offered a positive assessment of recent days.
“It was noted that the measures approved by the contact group in Minsk helped allow a reduction in the intensity of fighting in Donbass and reduced the number of civilian casualties,” Moscow said. Donbass refers to the region of eastern Ukraine where the conflict has been concentrated. “It was noted that the measures approved by the contact group in Minsk helped allow a reduction in the intensity of fighting in Donbass and reduced the number of civilian casualties,” it said, referring to the region of eastern Ukraine where the conflict has been concentrated.
The Kremlin said the leaders had agreed that the foreign ministers of the four countries would begin consultations “in the nearest future” about implementing the terms of the cease-fire — further indication of Russia’s view that the peace accord was still on track. “The leaders emphasized the need to secure a sustainable cease-fire,” the Kremlin added. The Kremlin said the leaders had agreed that the foreign ministers of the four countries would begin consultations “in the nearest future” about carrying out the terms of the cease-fire — a further indication of Russia’s view that the peace accord was still on track. “The leaders emphasized the need to secure a sustainable cease-fire,” the Kremlin added.
Ukraine, in its statement, said there was agreement that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is supposed to monitor the truce, should be given full support and it said that some verification had begun, including in the area of the Donetsk airport, and in the towns of Horlivka, Pervomaisk and Shyrokyne. Ukraine, in its statement, said there was agreement that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is supposed to monitor the truce, should be given full support. It also said that some verification had begun, including in the area of the Donetsk airport, and in the towns of Horlivka, Pervomaisk and Shyrokyne.
Mr. Poroshenko also demanded the release of all prisoners, including Ukrainian soldiers captured in the area of Debaltseve. The Minsk accord had called for the release of prisoners held on each side, on a principle of “all for all.” The prisoner exchange was supposed to take place within two weeks after the pullback of heavy weapons.Mr. Poroshenko also demanded the release of all prisoners, including Ukrainian soldiers captured in the area of Debaltseve. The Minsk accord had called for the release of prisoners held on each side, on a principle of “all for all.” The prisoner exchange was supposed to take place within two weeks after the pullback of heavy weapons.
For weeks after a previous failed truce agreement in September, the four leaders had issued positive statements even as fighting continued and the number of casualties increased, as if they might be able to impose the truce by force of will. For weeks after a failed truce agreement in September, the four leaders had issued positive statements even as fighting continued and the number of casualties increased, as if they might be able to impose the truce by force of will.
It was not immediately clear if the battle for Debaltseve, with the number of dead and injured still not tallied, was a final tussle over where to draw the cease-fire line, or a clear sign that the war would persist despite the Minsk agreement.It was not immediately clear if the battle for Debaltseve, with the number of dead and injured still not tallied, was a final tussle over where to draw the cease-fire line, or a clear sign that the war would persist despite the Minsk agreement.
Highlighting its control over Debaltseve, Russia said on Thursday that it was sending a convoy of humanitarian aid to the town.Highlighting its control over Debaltseve, Russia said on Thursday that it was sending a convoy of humanitarian aid to the town.
Mr. Poroshenko’s office said that at least six Ukrainian soldiers had died during the retreat from Debaltseve on Wednesday and that more than 100 were injured, though reports from soldiers on the ground suggested the numbers could be substantially higher. Mr. Poroshenko’s office said that at least six Ukrainian soldiers had died during the retreat from Debaltseve on Wednesday and that more than 100 were wounded, though reports from soldiers on the ground suggested the numbers could be substantially higher.
In a statement defending his decision to order the withdrawal, Mr. Poroshenko said that 2,475 soldiers were safely pulled out, along with 200 military vehicles.In a statement defending his decision to order the withdrawal, Mr. Poroshenko said that 2,475 soldiers were safely pulled out, along with 200 military vehicles.