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His comments followed a meeting with the foreign ministers for Ukraine, Germany and France in Munich, according to Russian state television.

Lavrov called it positive that the foreign ministers "agreed once again for the state of a ceasefire on February 20."

It also called for the withdrawal of foreign troops, local elections and full control of the border by Ukraine.

It's probably too soon for people to be optimistic about the latest ceasefire agreement, according to CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson, but "what you have here are the ingredients to reinvigorate the Minsk agreement," he said.

European leaders won't lift sanctions until full implementation of the Minsk agreement.

"What we seem to be seeing here is Sergei Lavrov perhaps taking a step further to make that happen," Robertson said.

It allows "Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in certain districts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions can enter and leave the Russian Federation without applying for visas," according to the statement.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko slammed Putin's order.

Later Saturday, the Ukrainian leader met with US Vice President Mike Pence and "informed him on that decision of Russian President Putin," according to Poroshenko's office.

"We have once again received a powerful signal that the USA stands with Ukraine, that Ukraine is among the top priorities for the new US administration," Poroshenko said after the meeting. "The issue of Crimea and decisive struggle for the liberation of Crimea also remain among priorities."

Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.

Originally posted here:
Eastern Ukraine ceasefire starts Monday, Russia says - CNN