Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told Kiev troops to surrender to the pro-Russian separatists amid a shaky ceasefire deal as rebels in Debaltseve continue to shell Ukrainian troops on Tuesday.

The amended ceasefire deal has asked both sides to retrieve heavy guns and other weapons but none of the parties were able to meet this requirement. Since the rebels are advancing and will not stop until the town of Debaltseve falls into their hands, the Ukrainian military and troops should just surrender to stop further shelling, said Putin.

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The Russian leader has been accused of directing the pro-Russian separatists and sending troops to back the rebels but has incessantly denied such allegations. In a statement, he said he hopes the Ukrainian leadership would let its troops stand down and that the rebels would allow the soldiers to reutrn to their families once they surrender.

"If they aren't capable of taking that decision themselves and giving that order, then (I hope) that they won't prosecute people who want to save their lives and the lives of others," Putin added.

According to the rebels, the shelling continues in Debaltseve as this area is not covered by the ceasefire deal and that they already control around 80 percent of the town. Ukrainian officials reported that the rebel assault in the town is being backed up by Russian tanks, artillery and troops but Russian officials have denied the allegations.

One of the leaders of the rebels, Eduard Basurin, reportedly said that around 5,000 Ukrainian troops are on their way to surrendering as part of negotiations between the two sides. Basurin added that they will release them and allow them to go home to their families but Ukrainian officials pointed out there was no truth in this because the given number is too high.

The European countries involved in the peace talks are hoping that the ceasefire deal would finally end the war that has been going on for almost ten months now and has killed around 5,000 people in the latest recorded count by the United Nations.

TagsUkraine crisis, Russia, ceasefire, Debaltseve