With Few Exceptions Ukraine Ceasefire Still Holding (Updated)

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New York Times: Guarded Optimism as Cease-Fire Holds in East Ukraine

BERLIN — Buoyed somewhat by the relative success of a two-week-old cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine have urged fighters and mediators to build on that progress and withdraw weapons and remove land mines as well as prepare for local elections later this year.

The four nations held what the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, described as one of their less confrontational meetings late Saturday, reviewing as they have on six previous occasions the state of a truce and overall accord that has never fully held or been carried out.

While Mr. Steinmeier noted that every advance remained difficult and negotiators still had not agreed on the withdrawal of weapons, or how to hold elections in eastern Ukraine, he expressed guarded optimism that the leaders of the four countries would meet in Paris in early October.

WNU editor: There has been some reports of ceasefire violations .... Donetsk republic reports five ceasefire violations by Ukrainian troops in past day (TASS), but the fighting has been significantly reduced in the past two weeks.

More News On The Ceasefire Still Holding In Ukraine

Foreign Ministers Make Headway on Ukraine Conflict -- WSJ
Deal To Remove Heavy Weapons From Ukraine 'Very Close' -- NPR
German FM: ‘significant progress’ made towards resolving Kyiv-Moscow conflict -- Euronews
Ukraine ceasefire talks 'make significant progress' -- BBC
Top officials hail 'progress' on Ukraine deal -- AFP
'Significant Progress' Reported At Ukraine Peace Talks In Berlin -- Radio Free Europe
Winter is coming to Ukraine: ‘Normandy Four’ vows to speed up ‘less confrontational’ crisis talks -- RT
Ukraine’s Poroshenko on Russia, corruption and the challenges ahead -- Washington Post
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko: We're inching towards peace with Russia -- The Independent
Ukraine Is Moving Towards Peace With Russia: Poroshenko -- IBTimes
Poroshenko says large-scale demobilization underway in Ukraine -- TASS
Russia's Putin welcomes Ukraine ceasefire -- Reuters
Putin Says No Alternative To Minsk Accords In Ukraine Crisis -- Radio Free Europe
Ceasefire in E. Ukraine is major achievement, no alternative to Minsk accords – Putin -- RT
Russia calls on Ukraine to refrain from steps aggravating humanitarian problems in Donbas -- TASS
EU extends sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis -- ABC News
Europe's $500mn lifeline to Ukraine to buy Russian gas not enough - Gazprom -- RT