Ukraine Troops Participate in 'Heavy Weapon Withdrawal' as Peace Treaty Begins

Ukraine has announced its plans for a "heavy weapon withdrawal" from the east as the beginning step to their recognition of a peace treaty with Russia.

Russia and Ukraine reached a truce on February 15 in Minsk, but international powers were concerned the truce wouldn't be followed after pro-Russia separatists pushed Ukrainian forces out of the transportation hub of Debaltseve last week.

Ukraine announced this week that it has begun removing massive artillery supplies from the front lines in the east, including removing heavy guns from Paraskoviyvka and large armored vehicles from a neighboring city. 

"Today Ukraine has begun the withdrawal of 100 millimeter guns from the line of confrontation," the Ukrainian government said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

Ukraine added that it has the right to halt the artillery removal "in the event of any attempted offensive".

According to ABC News, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that although he is pleased to hear that the ceasefire agreement is being followed, he asserted that he believes Russia has supplied weapons to pro-Russian separatists. Other American leaders have also accused Russia of lying about its involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

"Russia has transferred in recent months over 1,000 pieces of equipment — tanks, artillery, advanced air defense system — and they have to withdraw this equipment and they have to stop supporting the separatists," Stoltenberg told reporters Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power warned the Russian government to stop arming separatists in a recent statement, saying: "Stop arming the separatists. Stop sending hundreds of heavy weapons across the border in addition to your troops. Stop pretending you are not doing what you are doing."