Ukraine's warring factions miss key cease-fire deadline

The Ukraine cease-fire isn&#039;t holding in Debaltseve — (Image credit: Reuters/YouTube)

Under a Ukraine cease-fire agreement reached last week, heavy weaponry was supposed to be removed from the frontline starting Tuesday. Neither Ukraine's military nor the Russia-supplied separatists fighting them are going to meet the deadline, at least in the battle for the strategically important transportation hub of Debaltseve. Associated Press reporters observed shelling by both sides on Tuesday morning in Debaltseve, and neither side appears set to move until the other goes first.

"As soon as the militants cease fire, the Ukrainian side will begin to withdraw heavy weaponry from the frontline," Ukraine military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh said early Tuesday. On a brighter note, most of the other battle zones in eastern Ukraine appear to be calm, AP reports, in a sign that the cease-fire is holding elsewhere in the country. Reuters has some footage from outside Debaltseve. —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.