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1st Ld: U.S. welcomes Ukraine ceasefire deal -- White House

Xinhua, February 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States welcomes the ceasefire agreement on the Ukraine crisis reached in the Belarusian capital of Minsk and calls for immediate implementation of the deal, the White House said Thursday.

The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France announced Thursday a peace deal for an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine following 14-hour marathon talks in Minsk.

The agreement represents a "potentially significant step" toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty consistent with the Minsk agreements from last September, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement, calling on all parties to carry out the accord and the September agreements "fully and without delay."

"The true test of today's accord will be in its full and unambiguous implementation, including the durable end of hostilities and the restoration of Ukrainian control over its border with Russia," Earnest said. Endite