You're reading: Poroshenko demands militants immediately withdraw military hardware they brought to buffer zone

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said prompt withdrawal of the enemy's heavy equipment and artillery, which are now being returned to the buffer zone in Donbas, is a matter of vital importance.

“According to [President] Petro Poroshenko, not only the amount, the routes, and the storage places must be registered but [also] OSCE officials must be provided with permanent effective access for monitoring. The president said the militants supported by Russia are returning before May 9 the equipment that they allegedly previously withdrew from it,” the presidential press service reported following his meeting with representatives of working subgroups of the trilateral contact group.

“The explanations don’t stand up to any scrutiny: they are allegedly preparing for a parade, they are preparing training and they are conducting combat training. The agreements need to be observed and all equipment needs to be withdrawn within hours,” Poroshenko said.