Ceasefire in East Ukraine Mostly Observed – OSCE

The head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan said that the ceasefire in Donbas was overall respected over 12 hours of its implementation throughout the theatre.

KIEV, (Sputnik) — The ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been mostly observed during the first 12 hours after its announcement, the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine said Sunday.

"The SMM notes the ceasefire was overall respected over 12 hours of its implementation throughout the theatre," Ertugrul Apakan said during a press briefing in Kiev, adding that violations were registered in the area of Debaltsevo.

There is a possibility of settling the conflict in southeastern Ukraine peacefully, the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine said Sunday.

"We do believe that through the peaceful means the settlement of the situation in the eastern regions [of Ukraine] is possible," Ertugrul Apakan said during a press conference in Kiev.

Apakan stressed the importance of respecting the agreements reached in the Belarusian capital Minsk earlier this week.

"We look for all parties to fully implement the package of measures, and for full compliance of the ceasefire," he said.

The ceasefire, which came into force on Sunday at midnight Ukrainian time (February 14, 22:00 GMT), is part of the deal reached by the warring sides after talks in Minsk earlier this week.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko stated earlier on Sunday that the situation in Donbas is beginning to stabilize after the ceasefire became effective.

Both Kiev and Donbas militias said that the ceasefire is mostly respected, despite a number of violations.