Ukraine crisis: Army and rebels stall heavy arms pullout

The two sides were given until not more than two days after the latest truce came into effect to start the pullout.

The government said it would not pull back until fighting ended in the beleaguered town of Debaltseve.

Separatists say the agreement does not apply there because the town is surrounded.

They have offered Ukrainian troops encircled there a safe corridor to leave. France, Germany and the US expressed concern at the continued fighting.

The Ukrainian military command said pro-Russian rebels had attacked 112 times since early Sunday, mostly around Debaltseve.

A Ukrainian officer said there was also fighting near Mariupol, a port city.

The rebels accused Ukrainian forces of shelling Donetsk airport. Meanwhile, further EU sanctions against Russia have gone into effect.

The new sanctions list targets 19 officials - most of them in the pro-Russian separatist strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk, but also two Russian deputy defence ministers and a Russian celebrity singer and MP, Iosif Kobzon.

'Not an indicator'

Under the Minsk ceasefire agreed last week, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from front line areas was due to start no later than the second day after the truce came into effect and be completed within two weeks.

The withdrawal would create buffer zones 50-140km (30-85 miles) wide.

But a Ukrainian military spokesman quoted by Reuters news agency said there would be no withdrawal of heavy weapons yet because the rebels were violating the ceasefire.

(BBC)