Rebels have Ukraine port city in their sights
A UN-backed ceasefire showed signs of taking hold in Ukraine on Wednesday, but tensions remained high after the US accused Russia of “lies” and Britain ordered a small troop deployment to train Kyiv’s forces.
Russia in turn has warned it could within days cut off gas supplies to Ukraine – and, by extension, to parts of the European Union.
For the first time since the European-brokered truce came into force February 15, no deaths were reported in Ukraine’s war zone by either side for the past 24 hours.
“Over the past day, one soldier was wounded but there were no dead,” Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists in Kyiv.
There was still no confirmation, though, from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of a pull-back of heavy weapons from the frontline – the other key plank of the truce.
Kyiv says it will not carry out an arms pullback until a full and “comprehensive” ceasefire is observed and has accused Russia of continuing to send military hardware in to bolster the rebels.
The West has thrown its hopes of finding a negotiated solution to Ukraine’s 10-month conflict fully behind the truce, which last week won unanimous backing from the UN Security Council.
But continued breaches by rebel forces – especially their assault on Debaltseve, a strategic transport hub, and a build-up and attacks on Ukrainian army positions near the port city of Mariupol – have exasperated the EU and US.
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday launched his most scathing accusation to date over Russia’s alleged involvement in the conflict.
“They have been persisting in their misrepresentations – lies – whatever you want to call them – about their activities there to my face, to the face of others, on many different occasions,” he told US lawmakers.
British Prime Minister David Cameron separately announced his country was sending up to 75 soldiers to Ukraine on a “training mission”, with some leaving for Kyiv this week. He said they would not be sent to the conflict zone.
Cameron urged the EU to look at wide-ranging sanctions on Russia’s economy, which is already toppling into recession because of a drop in oil prices.
Russia is flexing its muscles in readiness for any additional sanctions against it. Its state-run gas giant Gazprom has warned it could cut off supplies to Ukraine, amid a dispute over payment.
President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine had paid only enough “for three or four days’ gas supplies. Unless there is a prepayment, Gazprom… will terminate the supply,” according to the Interfax news agency.
Much of the gas that flows through Ukraine goes on to supply the EU market.
AFP