New shelling has been reported in
the rebel-held east Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, a day after
the peace deal was reached in Minsk.
There are no confirmed
reports of casualties. Both cities are near the front line where the
pro-Russian rebels face government forces.
The ceasefire agreed in the Belarusian capital is to begin in eastern Ukraine after midnight (22:00 GMT) on Saturday.
The EU has warned Russia of new sanctions if the deal is not respected.
BBC journalists in Donetsk heard new shelling on Friday morning, though they said it sounded less intense than in recent days.
Luhansk also came under bombardment overnight.
Doubts
remain about the peace deal, which was agreed following marathon
negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.
Pro-Russian
rebels have signed the agreement, which also includes weapon
withdrawals and prisoner exchanges, but key issues remain to be settled.
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel says EU officials have been told to prepare
further sanctions in case the ceasefire is not respected. The latest agreement includes:
Ceasefire to begin at 00:01 local time on 15 February (22:01 GMT 14 February)
Heavy weapons to be withdrawn, beginning on 16 February and completed in two weeks
All prisoners to be released; amnesty for those involved in fighting
Withdrawal of all foreign troops and weapons from Ukrainian territory. Disarmament of all illegal groups
Ukraine to allow resumption of normal life in rebel areas, by lifting restrictions
Constitutional reform to enable decentralisation for rebel regions by the end of 2015
Ukraine to control border with Russia if conditions met by the end of 2015
Ukraine conflict
The human cost
5,486
people killed since conflict began in April 2014
12,972 wounded across eastern Ukraine
5.2 million people estimated to be living in conflict areas
978,482 internally displaced people within Ukraine, including 119,832 children
AP
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Ukrainian and Russian military commanders will hold direct talks.
He warned that implementation of the agreement, reached by leaders in the Belarusian capital Minsk, would be difficult.
A
sticking point is the disputed town of Debaltseve, a key
government-held town besieged by rebels, where fighting is still going
on.
Further talks will also be held on self-rule in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk separatist regions.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels but Russia denies this.
More
than 5,400 people have been killed since the conflict began. There has
been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians
killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.
Two accords - what are the differences?
September 2014
February 2015
The ceasefire
No precise timing set.
Starts at 00:00 local time on 15 Feb.
Withdrawal of heavy weapons
No timetable, buffer zone of 30km (19 miles) to be created.
Buffer zones from 50km to maximum of 140km; withdrawal to start by 16 Feb. Completion within two weeks.
Withdrawal of troops
Pull-back demanded from existing frontline (at the time of signing
the Ukrainian army had pushed the rebels back, but later the rebels made
big gains).
Ukrainian army pulls back from current frontline, but rebels retreat
from 19 Sep 2014 line, so some recent rebel gains will be lost.
Control of Ukraine-Russia border
OSCE to monitor border permanently, and security zones to be set up on both sides of border.
Ukraine to regain full control of border only after local elections
in Donetsk and Luhansk and after a full political settlement - deadline
is end of 2015.
Release of all hostages
Immediate.
To be completed at latest on fifth day after military withdrawal.
Economic help for Donetsk/Luhansk
Provide humanitarian aid and work to restore normal economic activity (no timetable).
Provide humanitarian aid; restore full economic links with
Donetsk/Luhansk, including welfare payments and banking services;
Ukrainian state to help develop Donetsk/Luhansk and regions'
co-operation with Russia.
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