That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for today. Check back on Saturday morning for more of our continuing coverage.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
The leaders of the G7 say the fresh cease-fire agreement for eastern Ukraine offers a peaceful resolution to the crisis and threatened to take action if it is violated.
In a joint statement issued on February 13 by the French presidency, the G7 leaders -- from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States -- said they remained concerned about the situation in eastern Ukraine and in particular about fighting around the town of Debaltseve ahead of the February 15 cease-fire.
"All parties should refrain from actions in the coming days that would hinder the start of the cease-fire," the statement said.
News flashes from AFP and Reuters on the situation in Ukraine:
-- G7 LEADERS' STATEMENT, ISSUED BY FRENCH PRESIDENCY, SAYS MINSK ACCORD "OFFERS WAY FORWARD TO COMPREHENSIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND PEACEFUL" RESOLUTION OF UKRAINE CRISIS
-- G7 SAYS STANDS READY TO ADOPT "APPROPRIATE MEASURES" AGAINST THOSE WHO VIOLATE MINSK AGREEMENT ON UKRAINE
-- G7 LEADERS' STATEMENT SAYS ALL PARTIES SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ACTIONS IN COMING DAYS THAT WOULD HINDER START OF FEB. 15 CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE
-- G7 calls for Ukraine deal to be implemented 'without delay'
-- Rebel bombardment of civilians is an attack on Minsk peace deal: Ukraine president
-- Russia "significantly increased' offensive against Ukraine: Poroshenko
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has named former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to be one of his advisers.
A decree posted on the Ukrainian president's website on February 13 said Saakashvili would be on the newly created Consultative International Council of Reforms and that the former Georgian president's main task would be making proposals and recommendations for conducting referendums.
The statement said the board would try to attract other international experts to help reform Ukraine's legislation and help raise the level of international support for the country.
Poroshenko said Saakashvili would be a representative abroad for Ukraine and simultaneously be a representative for the international community inside Ukraine.
More from AFP:
The United States charged Friday that Russia was continuing to deploy heavy weapons in eastern Ukraine, before a ceasefire agreed this week goes into effect.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States had received reports of heavy weapons being moved into eastern Ukraine from Russia over the past few days, and more apparently on the way.
"This is clearly not in the spirit of this week's agreement," Psaki told reporters.