As the deadline passed for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine, chances that the intense fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces that are reported to be surrounded in the eastern city of Debaltseve appeared slim to none.
“We were ready for the immediate ceasefire in Minsk, but our counterpart demanded 60 additional hours,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a address minutes after the deadline passed, according to Twitter feeds of correpondents based in the region.
“[Poroshenko] addressing the nation orders all artillery silenced, warns: ‘If anyone slaps us on the cheek, we won’t let them hit the other,’ ” Donbass-based Mashable correspondent Christopher Miller reported as Poroshenko addressed the nation after the deadline passed.
The Russian-backed leader of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko told reporters earlier in the day that “there is not a single word about Debaltseve in [Minsk] agreements. That means that Ukraine simply betrayed 5,000 people in the ‘cauldron’,” Zakharchenko said, according to news reports.
According to the reports, the Russian-backed separatists do not intend to stop fighting for the town until Ukrainian forces surrender.
The agreements, signed earlier this week by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine, call for a complete ceasefire by 12:01 a.m. Sunday to end 10 months of violence that so far has claimed more than 5,000 lives. The conflict started early in 2014 when Russia invaded and took over Crimea, and began a campaign to take over the eastern regions of Ukraine by providing a host of sophisticated weapons systems to separatist forces.
In recent weeks, President Obama has faced increasing pressure at home to increase the aid provided so far to Ukrainian forces to include lethal defensive systems, such as anti-tank weapons. To date, the aid provided has been non-lethal in nature, such as radars and equipment.
Earlier in the day, Poroshenko reached out to the U.S. for renewed assistance as attacks by Russian-backed separatists and possibly the Russian military escalated hours before an agreed-to ceasefire.
“Held a telephone conversation with [Barack Obama] agreed to further coordinate efforts in case of escalation,” the Ukrainian president tweeted to followers just 3.5 hours before a complete cease-fire was to take hold.
The White House released a statement summarizing the call as the cease-fire passed.
“The President spoke with Ukrainian President Poroshenko today to express … his deep concern about the ongoing violence, particularly in and around Debaltseve,” according to the statement.
“The two leaders emphasized the pressing need for all signatories to implement the cease fire and protocol agreements reached at Minsk last September and reaffirmed by the Minsk Implementation Plan this week. They agreed to remain in close contact in the days ahead.”
Earlier in the day, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt retweeted satellite images from the U.S. Mission to NATO that appear to show Russian artillery shelling Debaltseve.
The images appear to show the group of five towed and self-propelled artillery systems amid reports of heavy shelling of the town just hours before a full ceasefire is to take effect. The increase in violence is likely part of a last minute land-grab as both Russian and Ukrainian forces seek control of the contested city.
Ukraine: “We are confident these are Russian military, not separatist systems” http://t.co/NfPuVPuop4 pic.twitter.com/WAsTLDl9M4
— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) February 14, 2015
Ukrainian regional police chief Vyacheslav Abroskin posted to his Facebook account Saturday that Debaltseve “is burning.”
“Artillery strikes non-stop at civilian houses and buildings,” he wrote.
On Saturday the Ukrainian online newspaper “Ukrainian Truth” reported that Poroshenko would declare martial law across the entire country if a ceasefire was not honored, which in effect could turn the regional attack in eastern Ukraine into a country-wide war.
On Friday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the systems weren’t run by the separatists, but were a direct attack by the Russian military.
“The Russian military has deployed a large amount of artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems around Debaltseve where it is shelling Ukrainian positions,” Psaki said. “We are confident these are Russian military, not separatist systems. The Russian military also has air defense systems deployed near Debaltseve. We are also confident these are Russian military, not separatist systems.”
As part of the agreement reached earlier this week, both the Russian-backed and Ukrainian forces are to abide by a complete cease-fire by 12:01 a.m. Sunday, and withdraw all heavy artillery equipment in the next 14 days.
On Friday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said the U.S. remains hopeful despite the escalating attacks.
“We’re hopeful, but actions speak louder than words, and we’re going to have to see,” Kirby said. “I mean, the ink wasn’t even dry on the first Minsk agreement before Moscow violated it. So, again, we’re going to be watching this very closely.
