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Britain will not send arms to Ukraine: minister
by Staff Writers
London (AFP) Feb 22, 2015


Both sides agree to start heavy weapons pullback in Ukraine
Kiev (AFP) Feb 22, 2015 - Both sides in Ukraine's conflict have agreed to pull back their heavy weapons from the frontline in accordance with a UN-backed truce, a Ukrainian military official told AFP on Sunday.

"The papers have been signed to begin withdrawing heavy weapons all along the frontline," General Olexander Rozmaznin said.

The pro-Russian rebels confirmed separately through their own news agency that they had also signed the agreement.

Rozmaznin said it was too early to say when the arms pullback would start. Some Ukrainian media suggested it could begin later on Sunday.

Under the terms of the truce, mediated by Germany and France and put into effect a week ago, the withdrawal of the weapons was meant to have started on Tuesday and be completed by March 3.

But up to now, that truce has been repeatedly violated. The rebels notably ignored it to overrun Ukrainian troops in the strategic eastern town of Debaltseve.

However in another sign that both sides in the conflict might now be willing to apply the truce, an overnight prisoner exchange took place in which 139 Ukrainian soldiers were traded for 52 rebel fighters.

A senior British minister ruled out sending arms to Ukraine Sunday as the United States and European nations sought ways to pressure Russia over the conflict in the ex-Soviet republic's east.

William Hague, who was foreign secretary until last year and is still a minister seen as close to Prime Minister David Cameron, said governments should think "very, very carefully" about such a move.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said earlier this month that, while Britain was not currently planning to supply "lethal aid" to Ukraine, "we reserve the right to keep this position under review".

Britain is already sending non-lethal equipment such as light armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine.

"We are not planning, as the UK, to send arms to Ukraine. It has not been our approach in any of the conflicts in recent years to send arms into those conflicts," Hague told BBC television.

He stressed that a "diplomatic solution" was the way forward and warned: "You have to think very, very carefully" before sending in additional arms to a conflict.

Opponents of sending arms have argued that it could result in a proxy war between Russia and the West.

US President Barack Obama said this month that he had not yet made a decision on whether to send weapons to Ukraine, where Kiev's forces are pitched against pro-Russian separatists.

Secretary of State John Kerry warned in London Saturday that new "serious sanctions" against Russia were being considered in the conflict after breaches to a ceasefire brokered in Minsk this month.

Russia's repeated denials that it is providing military backing for the separatists have been dismissed by the West.


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