DPR to return weapons to contact line unless Ukraine starts pullback by 7:00 p.m. Feb 27
MOSCOW. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic (DPR) head Oleksandr Zakharchenko has presented an ultimatum to Kyiv regarding the time for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact.
"The DPR gives Kyiv until 7:00 p.m. Moscow time February 27 to start withdrawing its weapons. Otherwise, the DPR hardware will be returned to the line of contact," the Donetsk news agency cited Zakharchenko as saying.
If Kyiv violates the Minsk agreements, the DPR reserves the right to return the weapons earlier withdrawn by the militia "to the previous locations existing as of February 12, 2015," Zakharchenko said.
It was reported earlier that Ukrainian military began withdrawing artillery systems on the entire contact line in the conflict zone in southeastern Ukraine at a distance of at least 25 km from the contact line.
"We have begun withdrawing artillery systems on the entire engagement line. We are redeploying 100 mm weapons and anti-tank Rapiras [100 mm anti-tank cannons]. They are being withdrawn at least 25 km from the lines determined in the Minsk agreements," Anatoly Stelmakh, spokesman for the special operation, told Interfax on Thursday afternoon.
