Russian opposition defies Putin with anti-war marches / Kyiv pulls out heavy weapons from buffer zone

Thousands of Russians marched in protest against the armed conflict in Ukraine on the 21 September 2014, in the first major anti-war rally since the start of the standoff between Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels.

Ukraine's military said on the 22 September that it was pulling back artillery and heavy armour from the front line with separatists, backing President Petro Poroshenko's peace plan for a conflict that has cost more than 3,000 lives.

In the meantime, rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine scheduled to hold elections on 2 November, in an apparent show of defiance towards the government in Kiev.

Nato stated it had observed a "significant" withdrawal of Russian troops from eastern Ukraine, but added that some forces still remained there. Russia called yesterday on 28 September for a "reset 2.0" in relations with the United States, saying the situation in Ukraine that had led to Western sanctions against Russia was improving thanks to Kremlin peace initiatives.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Ukraine crisis: Rebels granted self-rule and amnesty http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-crisis-rebels-granted-self-rule-and-amnesty-poroshenko-asks-obama-for-weapons-obtains-blankets/

France24, 21.09.14: Thousands of Russians protest against Ukraine war http://www.france24.com/en/20140921-thousands-russians-protest-against-ukraine-war/

Euronews, 21.09.14: Thousands protest in Moscow against Russia’s role in Ukraine http://www.euronews.com/2014/09/21/thousands-protest-in-moscow-against-russia-s-role-in-ukraine/

Deutsche Welle, 21.09.14: Anti-war protesters march through Moscow http://dw.de/p/1DGYn

BBC News, 22.09.14: Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29300213

The Moscow Times, 21.09.14: Thousands March Against War in Ukraine in Moscow Protest http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/thousands-march-for-peace-in-moscow/507473.html

EurActiv, 23.09.14: Kyiv pulls out heavy weapons from buffer zone http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/kyiv-pulls-out-heavy-weapons-buffer-zone-308632

Deutsche Welle, 22.09.14: Ukraine troops prepare withdrawal amid holding ceasefire http://dw.de/p/1DGro

Deutsche Welle, 22.09.14: Eastern Europe expert: Ukraine faces a frozen conflict http://dw.de/p/1DH3n

Ukraine: President: News, 22.09.14: President about laws on amnesty and special regime of local government on the territory of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions: Ukraine has fulfilled its obligations http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ukrayina-vikonala-svoyi-zobovyazannya-prezident-pro-zakoni-s-33735

BBC News, 24.09.14: Ukraine crisis: Nato sees 'significant' Russian troop pullback http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29342463

BBC News, 23.09.14: Ukraine crisis: Rebels declare early poll date http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29335861

Deutsche Welle, 23.09.14: Ukraine rebels begin withdrawing heavy artillery under peace deal http://dw.de/p/1DJ4t

Deutsche Welle, 24.09.14: NATO: Significant pullback of Russian troops in Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1DJg2

BBC News, 25.09.14: Ukraine warns West against lifting Russia sanctions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29357105

EurActiv, 29.09.14: Lavrov calls for another ‘reset’ of relations with Washington http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/lavrov-calls-another-reset-relations-washington-308764

The Guardian, 28.09.14: Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov calls for ‘reset’ of relations with US http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/28/russian-foreign-minister-sergei-lavrov-reset-relations-us

BBC News, 28.09.14: Ukraine nationalists tear down Kharkiv's Lenin statue http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29405089

EUObserver [Analysis], 30.09.14: Could Putin's troops 'be in Warsaw in two days'? http://euobserver.com/defence/125807

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