Pro-Russia separatists have said they have started pulling heavy weapons from the front line in east Ukraine under a ceasefire deal but Ukraine said the rebels were using the cover of the truce to reinforce for another advance.

Fighting has eased in eastern Ukraine in recent days, raising hope that a ceasefire due to start on February 15 can finally take effect after the rebels initially ignored it to storm a government-held town last week.

Since taking the railway hub of Debaltseve in one of the worst defeats for Kiev of the war, the Moscow-backed rebels have indicated they want the truce to take effect. But Kiev says the rebels are still shooting, which the rebels deny.

Western countries have not given up on the ceasefire deal to end fighting that has killed more than 5,600 people, but have made clear they are suspicious of the rebels and their presumed patron, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

European countries have warned of new economic sanctions against Moscow if the rebels advance. Washington says it could arm Kiev.

Rebel commander Eduard Basurin said: "We are pulling heavy equipment back 30 miles from the boundary line."

Mr Basurin denied Ukrainian military reports of fighting in southeast Ukraine, saying there had been "provocations" from the government side but no serious clashes.

But the Kiev military said in a statement that rebel assertions they were pulling back guns were "mere empty words".

A spokesman added: "On the contrary, the terrorist groups, making use of the ceasefire period, are reinforcing their units and building up ammunition."

It said one of its soldiers had been killed and seven wounded in the past 24 hours, and repeated that it would not start pulling back weapons until shooting stopped.

Separatist press agency DAN reported ten incidents of government shelling near the rebel-held stronghold of Donetsk.

Mr Putin, who has mainly struck a conciliatory tone since the rebels captured Debaltseve last week, said in an interview with state television he did not think Russia and Ukraine would go to war against each other.

"I think that such an apocalyptic scenario is unlikely and I hope this will never happen," he said. He said he saw no need for another meeting with the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine like the one that produced the truce deal.