Rebels take upper hand as Ukraine towns fall
Kyiv is losing ground in the fight to control east Ukraine, having been pushed
out of vital strategic positions by resurgent rebel forces and what it says
is a rapidly growing Russian military presence inside its borders.
The reversals, the first in several weeks, came amid heavy fighting and dimmed
the glimmer of optimism that had emerged from talks between President
Poroshenko and President Putin in Minsk overnight. Both men were cautiously
positive about the discussion, and the Ukrainian leader promised a “road
map” to peace soon. He said that all those at the meeting had agreed to the
need