乌克兰冲突峰会达成停火协议

The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France emerged from marathon talks in Belarus Thursday with a cease-fire deal aimed at ending months of fighting that has killed thousands in eastern Ukraine.

The cease-fire, which will begin February 15, was announced following 16 hours of grueling, all-night talks in the Belarussian capital, Minsk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the parties "have managed to agree on the main issues," including the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the conflict area.

Pro-Russian rebels were also reported to have accepted the deal.

But all sides also stressed, in separate news conferences, that disagreements remain. "We have no illusions," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, adding there is "very, very much work to be done."

Even as the cease-fire was unveiled Thursday, Ukrainian military officials said that more tanks and heavy weapons had crossed into Ukrainian territory from Russia overnight.

"Around 50 tanks, 40 multiple rocket launch systems, and a similar number of armored vehicles crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border at Izvarin," said Kyiv military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

Russia has denied sending troops or weapons across the border to aid in the fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces that has killed at least 5,400 people and wounded thousands more.