The warring parties in Ukraine signed a document on controlling the withdrawal of weapons.

According to Voice of Russia/TASS, on February 20, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), along with the Kiev government, signed a document drafted by the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) on planning and organizing the monitoring of the parties' arms withdrawal.

Illustrative image. (Source: AFP/VNA)

Russia's representative at the JCCC, General Alexandr Lentsov, stated that he had noted "the interest of all parties – including the Ukrainian armed forces and the militias of the DPR and LPR, led by the leaders of these republics – in the rapid recovery of heavy weapons and ensuring security in these areas."

Lentsov pointed out that the control and recovery of weapons in the territories of the DPR and LPR are being carried out by joint teams.

In a related development on the same day, the Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would hold separate talks with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine on February 23.

It is expected that around noon on February 23, the UN Secretary-General will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov first, followed by a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin.

According to VNA