Buffer zone agreed on in Ukrainian peace talks

photo Pro-Russian rebels show an unexploded grenade in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on Sept. 19, 2014.

MINSK, Belarus - Participants in Ukrainian peace talks have reached agreement to create a buffer zone to separate government troops and pro-Russian militants.

Representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the Moscow-backed rebels agreed that the buffer zone should be 30 kilometers (19 miles) wide. They said after the talks that dragged into the night and ended early Saturday in the Belarusian capital Minsk that all heavy weapons should be withdrawn from that zone.

The negotiators also reached agreement on the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries - a diplomatic reference to Russians fighting alongside the rebels.

The talks in Minsk were intended to spell out details of a cease-fire agreement reached Sept. 5 that has been frequently interrupted by clashes.

Upcoming Events