Debaltseve, a contested and strategic town in Ukraine has been taken over by separatist forces, confirmed reports. This comes in the wake of an EU-brokered ceasefire that began on Sunday, after midnight. In response to the aggression, the President of the Ukranian forces announced they will be making an "organized" retreat from Debalstseve after many Ukranian troops reportedly surrendered to the Russian-backed rebels.
Fierce fighting took over much of eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire put forward by German Chancellor Merkel and French President Francois Hollande in the Minsk agreement, eventually backed by EU, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko.
Poroshenko denied claims that the rebel forces surrounded Ukrainian troops, who succumbed to a humiliating defeat. A former Minsk agreement brought to the table in September fell apart after both sides accused each other of not keeping a truce. Now, the rebels say Debaltseve was already under their control before the treaty was signed.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to President Putin of Russia, warning against aggressive tactics in Ukraine, and told Ukraine leaders to fight the rebels, if necessary. Canada has also offered military aid for Poroshenko's forces.
80% of Ukraine's troops have pulled back from Debaltseve, said the Ukraine President. "This morning the Ukrainian armed forces together with the National Guard completed an operation for a planned and organized withdrawal from Debaltseve," the Ukrainian president said in a statement.
One report confirmed that the withdrawal from the key town of Debaltseve came after the Russian President Putin made a request to the Ukranians to halt the fighting and surrendering weapons.
Chancellor Merkel and French President had hoped to come up with a ceasefire that both Poroshenko and Putin could agree to. While, the starting point was a disappointment to both EU players, they agreed that this was what the two opposing sides could come up with.
For a review of the key agreements in the Minsk agreement leading up to the ceasefire, please visit Minsk agreement: Key points.
