Ukrainian government forces and the pro-Russian separatist rebels fighting them in eastern Ukraine will observe a cease-fire starting on Friday, negotiators from all sides announced at a news conference in Minsk, Belarus.
The strength of the truce, however, was immediately called into question by continued fighting around Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine.
Speaking from Minsk, negotiators representing the Ukrainian government, the separatists, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that the cease-fire was due to come into force at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. Eastern). Initial reports by the Russian news agency Interfax and others said that the agreement included provisions for humanitarian aid corridors and an exchange of captives.
President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine confirmed on his official website and in Twitter messages that there was agreement on a cease-fire protocol.