The SMM on February 17, 2015, went to the headquarters of the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC), temporarily relocated to the government-controlled town of Soledar (77 km north of Donetsk) and was present at four video conference sessions with the Russian General formerly representing Russia at the JCCC, the Russian Major-General, Representative of the Armed Forces of Russia to the JCCC and the Ukrainian Major-General, Head of the Ukrainian side to the JCCC and members of the "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") and the "Luhansk People's Republic" ('LPR"). Representatives of the Presidential Administration and the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also present.
The SMM encouraged each side to confirm that they were willing and able to cease fire, in line with their earlier agreements, and raised the issue of its free and safe access to the town of Debaltseve (55 km northeast of Donetsk).
"The representative of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said the Ukrainian Armed Forces were willing to cease fire. The 'DPR" and "LPR" were not willing to do so," the SMM said.
'This refusal to cease fire was in clear contravention to their earlier agreement to do so," the SMM concluded.
