Ukraine says it won't pull back troops until pro-Russian rebels cease fire

A firefighter observes a damaged office building after shelling in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Sporadic artillery fire hit parts of eastern Ukraine on Saturday, hours after negotiators agreed to create a buffer zone between government troops and pro-Russian militants by halting their advances, pulling back heavy weapons and withdrawing foreign fighters. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

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A man walks past a damaged home after shelling in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Sporadic artillery fire hit parts of eastern Ukraine on Saturday, hours after negotiators agreed to create a buffer zone between government troops and pro-Russian militants by halting their advances, pulling back heavy weapons and withdrawing foreign fighters. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Anti-rally demonstrators gather at the beginning of an anti-war rally and march in downtown Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (The Associated Press)

MOSCOW – A Ukrainian official says Kiev won't pull back its troops until the previously agreed cease-fire is implemented.

The cease-fire that was declared Sept. 5 has been repeatedly violated.

Negotiators in Ukrainian peace talks agreed Saturday to create a buffer zone between government troops and pro-Russian militants by halting their advances and pulling back heavy weapons in order to ensure a stable truce in eastern Ukraine. More than 3,000 people have died in the conflict that has been raging since mid-April.

Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council, told reporters in Kiev on Sunday that the government "is not talking about" implementing the agreements until the complete cease-fire is achieved. He said rebels fired at government positions in the vicinity of 22 towns or villages on Saturday.