The ‘ceasefire’ in eastern Ukraine is unravelling fast

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Series Details 07.08.15
Publication Date 07/08/2015
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The immediate future, especially for the people of eastern Ukraine, looked bleak in August 2015. While Russia had so far used its proxies in the Donbas to influence Kiev, the failure of Minsk II and the instability of the current contact line might convince Moscow that it had little to lose by going further. And with the Kiev government on the ropes, there was hardly anything keeping this simmering conflict from boiling over again.

In a statement issued on the 11 August the EU said that 'The Minsk Agreements must be implemented in good faith, starting with full observation of the ceasefire and genuine withdrawal of heavy weapons. Further impetus must be given to talks within the Trilateral Contact Group, allowing for complete implementation of the Minsk Agreements within the agreed timeframe by the end of the year'.

The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on the 17 August 2015 that the Ukrainian government was planning a new offensive in its conflict with pro-Moscow separtists, flouting the Minsk ceasefire. Germany also warned that the situation was 'explosive'.

News sources reported also on the 17 August 2015 that at least nine people had died in heavy exchanges of artillery fire between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://theconversation.com/the-ceasefire-in-eastern-ukraine-is-unravelling-fast-45789
Related Links
ESO: Background information: The next battle for Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-next-battle-for-ukraine/
Deutsche Welle, 09.08.15: Underdocumented in Donbass: Eastern IDs invalid in Kyiv http://dw.com/p/1GCSo
Deutsche Welle, 17.07.15: Donbass autonomy to test Ukrainian government http://dw.com/p/1G0qb
Politico, 10.08.15: [Opinion]: If Minsk fails, let Moscow pay http://www.politico.eu/article/minsk-fails-moscow-pay-ukraine-crisis-putin-ceasefire/
Sputnik International, 10.08.15: Ukranian FM Calls to Prepare OSCE-Monitored Elections in Donbass http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150810/1025595982.html
Ukraine: President: News, 10.08.15: Ukrainian militaries gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy – President at the meeting with senior military officials http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ukrayinski-vijskovi-dali-vorogu-gidnu-vidsich-narada-prezide-35785
OSCE: Stories, 31.07.15: Cleaning-up unexploded ordnance in eastern Ukraine http://www.osce.org/ukraine/175491
OSCE: News, 09.08.15: Spot Report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): OSCE vehicles in Donetsk city damaged by fire http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/176256
EU: EEAS: Press Release, 11.08.15: Statement by the Spokesperson on the recent escalation of fighting in eastern Ukraine http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150811_03_en.htm
EurActiv, 13.08.15: EU, allies alarmed by recent escalation in Eastern Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/eu-allies-alarmed-recent-escalation-eastern-ukrainethe-316846
OSCE: News, 11.08.15: Escalating violence in eastern Ukraine is against the spirit of the Minsk Agreements, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dačić http://www.osce.org/cio/176636
Politico, 16.08.15: Germany fears escalation in “explosive” Ukraine http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-ukraine-explosive-russia-war-conflict-minsk/
ECFR: Commentary, 30.07.15: Is Europe losing Ukraine? http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_is_europe_losing_ukraine3088
Deutsche Welle, 17.08.15: Russia claims Kyiv is planning a new offensive in eastern Ukraine http://dw.com/p/1GGdG
Sputnik International, 17.08.15: EU Condemns Escalation of Fighting in Donbass, Urges to Protect Civilians http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150817/1025831075.html
BBC News, 17.08.15: Shelling in east Ukraine kills nine as clashes escalate http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33962356
EurActiv, 17.08.15: EU condemns escalation of violence near Mariupol http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/eu-condemns-escalation-violence-near-mariupol-316880
EUObserver, 18.08.15: EU urges both sides to stop shelling in Ukraine https://euobserver.com/foreign/129910
OSCE: News, 17.08.15: Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 16 August 2015 http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/177826
EurActiv, 18.08.15: Poroshenko and Juncker to meet as Ukraine crisis worsens http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/poroshenko-and-juncker-meet-ukraine-crisis-worsens-316907
Deutsche Welle, 19.08.15: Both sides in Ukraine conflict hinder observers, OSCE says http://dw.com/p/1GHXv
EurActv, 19.08.15: Western leaders to ask Poroshenko to deliver on the Minsk agreement http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/western-leaders-ask-poroshenko-deliver-minsk-agreement-316936
EurActiv, 21.08.15: Juncker to receive Poroshenko on 27 August http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/juncker-receive-poroshenko-27-august-316986

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