The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says Ukraine’s military and pro-Russian separatist forces in the Luhansk region have agreed “in principle” to a new cease-fire effective Dec. 5.

The OSCE said Monday the cease-fire would bring a truce include the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the area starting December 6.

The two sides signed a Russian-brokered truce September 5 in the Belarussian capital Minsk, but there have been near daily violations of the agreement.

The situation in Ukraine is a major focus of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.

On Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that there has been a “significant” Russian military build-up in and around Ukraine, along with “large transfers of Russian advanced weapons, equipment and military personnel to violent separatists.”

More than 4,300 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since separatist rebellions began in April.

 
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