Ukraine, Russia Reach Truce

September 03, 2014 4:07 AM Last updated on: September 03, 2014 7:08 AM

VOA News

Ukrainian servicemen ride in an armored vehicle near Kramatorsk, Sept. 2, 2014.

The office of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed on a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, but there was no immediate indication fighting in the region would stop.
Poroshenko's office first said Wednesday the two leaders agreed in a phone conversation on a "permanent cease-fire." But his office revised that statement to say mutual understanding was reached on steps that will contribute to establishing peace, without giving any details.
In recent months, Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebel forces have engaged in fierce clashes in eastern Ukraine.
In a separate statement Wednesday, the Kremlin said Putin and Poroshenko did not agree on a cease-fire in Ukraine, noting that Russia is not a party in the conflict. The statement said the two presidents discussed how to resolve the conflict.
Conflict
In recent months, Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebel forces have engaged in fierce clashes in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine said Tuesday that 15 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in fighting in the east since early Monday.

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Most of the fighting has been around the city of Donetsk, the rebels' largest stronghold and one of two major cities controlled by pro-Russian separatists seeking autonomy from Ukrainian rule. The other city is Luhansk.
Russian troops
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian official, Andriy Lysenko, said Russian troops have been spotted at 10 locations on Ukrainian territory. Lysenko said Russia is continuing to concentrate soldiers and military hardware in six areas in the Donetsk region, including Donetsk city and Luhansk.
Separately, Ukraine's Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey said Ukraine's military goals are shifting from a counter-insurgency operation to a battle against the Russian army.
NATO estimates at least 1,000 Russian troops are in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied any military presence on Ukrainian territory.