Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukrainian soldiers in Debaltseve received an ultimatum to lay down their arms in working condition and surrender.

"[I] emphasize that Ukraine received an ultimatum that if Ukrainian troops want to leave Debaltseve they must lay down all arms, surrender them in working conditions to the Russians, raise a white flag and give up to the mercy of the victors," the President said when opening a National Security and Defense Council meeting on Wednesday evening.

The President said that he had contacted the commanders of the units that had been based in Debaltseve.

"I am proud of our Armed Forces. Nobody agreed to those shameful conditions. Everyone was ready to fulfill the order," Poroshenko noted.

In addition, Poroshenko said that the militants had tried to use the announcement of the ceasefire to their advantage.

"While Ukraine was consistently observing the [Minsk] agreements, the Russians tried to remove military units from other directions and concentrate military actions on Debaltseve foothold, trying to surround our glorious soldiers," the President said.

In addition, after "Russia had publicly blocked [the way] for OSCE representatives" and a corresponding statement was made by the OSCE on the violation of the Minsk agreements, the President ordered the Defense Minister, the Head of the General Command, the Interior Minister and the Commander of the National Guard to coordinate the operation on withdrawing military units from Debaltseve.

"The President noted that OSCE were informed about it. He discussed the issue with the leaders of the U.S., Germany, France and EU. [I] clearly emphasized that we would show that there was no roundup, and our troops could accomplish a mission and leave Debaltseve," Poroshenko noted.

He added that during Wednesday night, Ukrainian soldiers began an organized withdrawal from Debaltseve.