Ukrainian troops abide by ceasefire, entitled to fire back – Muzhenko

12:59, 25.05.2016 1 min read

Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko has briefed U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt on Wednesday about reforms in Ukraine's military and the situation in the Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) zone.

During the meeting the sides discussed military reforms and the situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as the results of the Ukraine-NATO military committee meeting, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ambassador conveyed his condolences on the deaths of seven Ukrainian soldiers killed by an artillery barrage near Avdiyivka on May 22.

Muzhenko said that Ukrainian serviceman ignore provocations by Kremlin-backed militant groups and are carrying out international ceasefire arrangements. He added that they had the right to return fire if attacked.

Muzhenko said that Ukraine continues to insist on a full ceasefire and the withdrawal of large-caliber weapons as agreed from the demarcation line, as well as ensuring safe conditions for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission's work in Ukraine.