Ukraine began the last of three troop withdrawals in its eastern conflict zone, a move that should help pave the way for a peace summit with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France.
The pullback started Saturday shortly after noon Kyiv time, following a seven-day cease-fire, military spokesman Andriy Aheyev said by phone. The withdrawal is expected to last for three days followed by mine clearance, he said. Russian-backed separatists also began to withdraw their forces near the village of Petrivske, the official RIA Novosti news agency reported. The area was the last of three pilot zones chosen to begin the pullback.
The conflict that erupted after Russia annexed Crimea from its former ally in 2014 and backed the separatists in the Donbas has killed more than 13,000 people.
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Source: Bloomberg