East Ukraine ceasefire due to take effect

There is not yet any clear timetable for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from eastern Ukraine

A ceasefire is due to come into effect in eastern Ukraine following a deal in Munich over the weekend to halt fighting and withdraw heavy weapons from the front line. 

Talks took place in Munich over the weekend on a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine

But there have been many such agreements in the past and the omens for peace in the region are not good. Russian-backed fighters and the Ukrainian army have clashed almost daily for the last 30 months.


At the beginning of January there was a serious escalation in the violence. Ukraine said two of its soldiers had been killed and 16 injured in fighting over the weekend.

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In theory the two sides will this week pull back heavy weaponry from areas near the front line.