Editor’s Note: The following is the transcript and video of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s Feb. 18 statement on the retreat of Ukrainian forces from Debaltseve in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.

I can inform now that this morning the armed forces of Ukraine together with the National Guard completed the operation on the planned and organized withdrawal of a part of units from Debaltseve. We can say that 80 percent of troops have been already withdrawn. We are waiting for two more columns. Warriors of the 128th brigade, parts of units of the 30th brigade, the rest of the 25th and the 40th battalions, Special Forces, the National Guard and the police have already left the area.