Ukraine cease-fire goes into effect amid unease

After months of escalating clashes, Ukrainian and pro-Russian separatists pulled back on Sunday as a cease-fire agreement went into place at midnight.

Fighting between the two sides ramped up in recent days, but the new truce appeared to be holding in the early hours despite reports of isolated skirmishes. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced shortly after midnight Sunday that he had ordered his troops to stand down, though he added Kiev would not "turn the other cheek" should the rebels violate the truce.

The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany struck the last-ditch cease-fire after negotiations last week in Minsk, Belarus. It is the second cease-fire brokered in hopes of ending a conflict that has killed more than 5,000 people since it began last year.

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