Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine say they are prepared to pull back smaller-caliber weapons from much of the line of contact with Kyiv’s forces. “Do you believe we can shell ourselves?”, he told Reuters by phone.
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He added that “despite the complicated military and political situation in Ukraine”, the Lugansk People’s Republic is not going to use such an advantage and “provoke a new cycle of conflict”.
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko says the people who shot down the plane are “terrorists” and need to be held accountable.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is monitoring the ceasefire, has said neither side has fully withdrawn heavy artillery from the frontline as required by the peace deal.
On Saturday, three more civilians, including an elderly woman and her disabled grandson, were killed in Donetsk.
A firefighter extinguishes a fire after shelling between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on July 18, 2015.
Under a February armistice, the rebels and the Ukrainian troops they are fighting were to pull back heavy weapons to create a buffer zone, but violations have been frequent and fighting continues.
He was speaking after Ukrainian military official Serhiy Halushko said the army had intercepted and posted online rebel radio traffic that suggested the separatists had planned to shell Donetsk.
Donetsk Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko said on Saturday that his forces were ready to withdraw along the line except in “problem areas”.
The Ukrainian army in a statement said “the situation has deteriorated sharply”.
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The pullback could be completed by late Sunday, according to the rebels.
