European leaders abruptly changed their rhetoric prior to the meeting in Minsk. Both the USA and Europe, which had previously talked more about a peaceful settlement of the conflict, threatened to start deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine in the chance that the Ukrainian question isn’t solved in Minsk.
Despite the peace agreements, the situation in eastern Ukraine continues to be very tense: yesterday Ukrainian-controlled Kramators’k was shelled there was heavy fighting in Debaltseve, and late in the evening another explosion in Odessa was reported. In this way, the pro-Russian militants are trying to “strengthen their position” in the negotiation process.
WAR. Developments in the area of ATO
During the February 10, pro-Russian forces assaulted the ATO position in the area of Debaltseve. Backed by tanks and artillery, the attackersattempted to capture ATO positions near Novogrygoriyvka, Debaltseve, Kamenka, and Mius. This information is reported by the press center of the ATO.
As a result of what is expected to be an attack from pro-Russian militants,,seven civilians from the city of Kramators’kwere killed. Another 16 civilians were wounded with different degrees of severity. According to experts, pro-Russian forces shelled the city with cluster munitions from the “Tornado” weapon system.
The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine assigned responsibility for the shelling of Kramators’k on Russia.
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF CRISIS
On February 11, the leaders of Ukraine and the United States in a telephone conversation agreed to coordinate further steps after the meeting in the “Normandy format” in Minsk. During a telephone conversation with Russia’s President Putin, Obama threatened the Russian Federation with new sanctions in the case of further acts of aggression in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Federica Mogherini stated that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have an official mandate of the European Union to conduct negotiations on the settlement of the crisis in the “Normandy format.”
On Monday, US President Barack Obama pledged that Russia will suffer from the consequences of its ongoing aggression in eastern Ukraine, but he made it clear that he has no intention to increase the American role in the Ukrainian conflict. In an editorial by The Washington Post, the publications wrote that the Obama Administration underestimates the threat of war in Ukraine.
Russia needs to be restrained by the real actions, among which should be the transfer of defensive weapons to Ukraine, advised the former National Security Advisor to former President Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, during a report to the United States Senate.
OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
Another explosion occurred in the heart of Odesa . Law enforcement authorities haven’t commented on the incident yet, but it the press has reported that no one was hurt in the incident.
The Basmannyi Court of Moscow (Russia) extended the detention of the Ukrainian officer,Nadiya Savchenko until May 13, 2015.
