Russian general, Gen Alexander Lentsov, who is involved in implementing a truce, informed that militias in eastern Ukraine have agreed to begin to pull back heavy weapons from the frontline, BBC reports .
They signed the orders to complete the withdrawal in the next two weeks, starting from Sunday. However, it is not clear whether the move will be reciprocated by Ukraine. This agreement followed the exchange of 191 prisoners between Ukraine and the rebels, in accordance with the key part of the Minsk ceasfire deal.
It was the first step carried out successfully under the terms of the 12 February agreements signed in the Belarusian capital, brokered by France and Germany.
On February 21, the US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that Washington was considering "serious sanctions" against Russia if the breaches of the truce were to continue; the decision that was to made in the coming days.