Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists announced on Twitter Friday they signed a preliminary cease-fire agreement that could end months of fighting.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed the deal was signed in Minsk, Belarus. The pro-Russian separatists also confirmed on Twitter they had signed the cease-fire, according to the Associated Press.
The rebels tweeted the agreement would take effect Friday evening.
{mosads}The leader of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, however, said rebels would still seek to declare independence from Ukraine despite the cease-fire, Reuters reports.
Earlier Friday, Poroshenko expressed “careful optimism” the negotiations would yield a solution, but Western leaders said they were more skeptical. U.S. officials have hinted in recent days they are ready to impose additional sanctions in conjunction with the European Union.
NATO leaders, in fact, were expected to outline plans on Friday that would position more troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe and would create a rapid response force in case of further aggression from Russia.
President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are attending the NATO summit in Wales.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged NATO partners to cooperate in efforts to respond to further escalation in Eastern Europe.
“What matters most of all is what are we are able to do. What are we able to deploy,” Cameron said. “What enables us to respond rapidly and together collectively to the threats that we face.”
On Wednesday, the Pentagon said 200 U.S. soldiers would participate in peacekeeping exercises in Ukraine in mid-September.