Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he and the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine had agreed on the withdrawal of heavy weapons from Ukraine's frontlines and a ceasefire to begin from February 15.
"We have managed to agree on the main things," a visibly pleased Putin told reporters in Minsk after marathon talks that began Wednesday evening. "We have agreed on a ceasefire," he said but stressed that Kiev was still unwilling to directly negotiate with rebels.