Pro-Russian rebels step up shelling of government forces in eastern Ukraine as …

  • Five Ukrainian soldiers died and 26 have been injured in the past 24 hours
  • French and German leaders desperately trying to reach a new peace deal
  • Angela Merkel has said there are no guarantees the talks will stop fighting 
  • Deal could include greater autonomy for the separatists’ eastern region
  • Russian Foreign Minister blames US and Europe for ‘inflaming the crisis’
  • Sergey Lavrov has accused West of wanting to arm government soldiers 

By

Jay Akbar For Mailonline


Published:
15:53 GMT, 7 February 2015

|
Updated:
15:55 GMT, 7 February 2015

View
comments

Pro-Russian separatists have intensified shelling on Ukrainian government forces as world leaders try to hammer out a desperate peace deal to calm violence in the embattled country.

Seven civilians and five Ukrainian troops were killed during fighting in eastern Ukraine today – and at least 26 soldiers have been injured – government and rebel officials confirmed.

A recent upsurge in violence has forced France and Germany’s leaders to intervene – in a bid to broker a new peace treaty between warring sides.

But there is no guarantee the talks will work, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told an international security conference in Munich today.

Scroll down for video

Crisis: Pro-Russian rebels (pictured) have killed five Ukrainian soldiers in the last 24 hours alone

Crisis: Pro-Russian rebels (pictured) have killed five Ukrainian soldiers in the last 24 hours alone

Lethal: There have been both civilian and military fatalities in the rebel-held city of Donetsk (pictured)

Lethal: There have been both civilian and military fatalities in the rebel-held city of Donetsk (pictured)

Peace talks: The recent escalation in violence has prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel (centre) to try and negotiate a new resolution to stop the fighting

Peace talks: The recent escalation in violence has prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel (centre) to try and negotiate a new resolution to stop the fighting

War: The UN estimates over 5,000 people have died as a result of fighting in Ukraine since last April

War: The UN estimates over 5,000 people have died as a result of fighting in Ukraine since last April

War torn: Pro-Russian separatists (pictured) are thought to have killed over one thousand government troops 

War torn: Pro-Russian separatists (pictured) are thought to have killed over one thousand government troops 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande – who have visited both Ukraine and Russia’s capitals this week – are trying to strike a desperate deal to end the fighting.

The two leaders plan to discuss the proposals, which could include greater autonomy for the separatists’ eastern region, in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tomorrow.

Speaking to France 2 television, Hollande said the plan being negotiated would feature a 50 to 70km demilitarised zone being established.

He called for ‘rather strong’ autonomy in the east, adding: ‘These people have gone to war… It will be difficult to make them share a common life.’

Their aim is to draw up a joint agreement to enforce a peace treaty signed in Belarus in September, which has been violated by both sides. 

Merkel said today: ‘This conflict cannot be resolved by military means. It is all the more important now to set out substantial steps that serve to fill with life the Minsk agreement.’

Asked whether there are any guarantees any new agreement will not suffer the same fate as the last one, she replied that ‘there are no theoretical guarantees’ but says it is ‘worth making this attempt’.

She added: ‘After such experiences, I am very cautious with guarantees. The guarantee can only be keeping to what has been agreed… but the answer can’t be not to make any more agreements. Of course we have to try again and again.’

Diplomacy: Germany's Angela Merkel (left) and French President Francois Hollande (right) met with Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) yesterday to push through a peace deal with Ukraine

Diplomacy: Germany’s Angela Merkel (left) and French President Francois Hollande (right) met with Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) yesterday to push through a peace deal with Ukraine

Armed: Western nations have blamed Russia for arming separatists (pictured) in Ukraine - allegations that Moscow denies

Armed: Western nations have blamed Russia for arming separatists (pictured) in Ukraine – allegations that Moscow denies

Destruction: Donetsk's Sergey Prokofiev international airport, where brutal fighting has taken place, lies in ruins

Destruction: Donetsk’s Sergey Prokofiev international airport, where brutal fighting has taken place, lies in ruins

Bombing: The recent increase in violence and shelling of enemy areas in Ukraine has forced German and French leaders to try and broker another peace deal

Bombing: The recent increase in violence and shelling of enemy areas in Ukraine has forced German and French leaders to try and broker another peace deal

More than 5,300 people have been killed since fighting began in April according to the UN, and the bloodshed has markedly increased over the past two weeks prompting another desperate plea for diplomacy. 

Separatist forces appear to be amassing on the eastern town of Debaltseve, which lies between two major rebel-controlled regions, and the coastal city of Mariupol, which has already seen heavy bombing. 

Reports from Debaltseve yesterday said Ukrainian forces laid down mortar and howitzer fire from the town during an operation to evacuate civilians.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said he ‘sincerely’ hopes this latest diplomatic effort will produce results but warned against arming Kyiv’s troops – and blamed the United States and Europe for inflaming the crisis.

Following talks between the Russian, French and German leaders on Friday, he said: ‘We believe that there are good grounds for optimism, to issue recommendations for conflict resolution. 

Speaking during a debate at a security conference in Munich, he also pointed to growing calls in the West to ‘pump Ukraine full of lethal weapons.’

He added: ‘This position will only exacerbate the tragedy of Ukraine.’

‘I am sure that Russia will be among those parties that will guarantee the implementation of this agreement. But you can only guarantee what has already been achieved.’

Territory: Armed pro-Russian rebels (pictured) control the area near Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine

Territory: Armed pro-Russian rebels (pictured) control the area near Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine

Both the United States and other Western countries claim Russia has supplied troops and equipment to the separatists in eastern Ukraine, which Russia has denied.

The recent resurgence in fighting has prompted the US to consider giving lethal weapons to Ukraine.

But European nations fear the move will simply make the situation worse.

Angela Merkel said: ‘The problem is that I cannot imagine any situation in which improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes he will lose militarily.’ 

Merkel held a three-way meeting with Poroshenko and US Vice President Joe Biden after her appearance at the conference.

US Secretary of State John Kerry also was in Munich for the annual gathering of foreign and security policy leaders.


Comments (0)

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Who is this week’s top commenter?
Find out now