Rumour Has It....

"Shryokyne has been bombed practically round the clock."
"There is no attempt to seize our positions so far. The rebels are bringing up reserves."
Anatoliy Stelmakh, spokesman, Ukraine military

"[The Ukrainian president's call on the UN for peacekeeping] raises suspicions that he wants to destroy the Minsk accords."
Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the United Nations

"The Ukrainian security council's appeal to the United Nations to introduce peacekeepers on the Russian-Ukrainian border is a violation of the agreement of February 12."
Denis Pushilin, senior authority, Donetsk People's Republic

Fatigue in retreat: Ukrainian servicemen sit on top of a tank near Artemivsk, as they withdraw from Debaltseve following a fierce offensive by Russian-backed separatists. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Well, isn't that just like the Ukrainians? Deceitful and nasty in doing all they can to foil the plans of Russia-obsessed Ukrainian separatists to separate Kyiv from a major portion of its sovereign territory. What self-respecting government wouldn't just hand over a significant part of its geography to disgruntled, disaffected, violent rebels, after all? Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is such a spoiler.

We have it on the authority of Russia's UN ambassador that Ukraine is dead set on destroying the second Minsk accord on the pathway to peace, transforming it into the roadblock to peace, just because Kyiv has the unmitigated gall to insist on its sovereign right to have inviolable borders. Protesting that the three million people living in the Donetsk region and the industrial heartland of Ukraine remain Ukrainian; the nerve.

Little wonder that authorities of the Donetsk People's Republic are outraged that Ukraine, in insisting on its sovereign rights has violated the Minsk-two ceasefire agreement. Forcing the Russian-speaking rebels to little other option but to forge on to their dedicated conflict to "liberate" Mariupol. Just to treat Kyiv to an object lesson in humility. Who do they think they're dealing with, after all? This is Russia, standing tall and obdurate, aligned with the rebels.

But there we are, Ukrainian officials claiming the Azov sea resort village of Shrokyne, a few kilometres from the key port of Mariupol, has become another epicentre of regional fighting. Debaltseve was a success, wrested away from a debilitated, demoralized Ukrainian military, no match for the sly deceit of Vladimir Putin's plans to humble and cannibalize an ungrateful Ukraine. Now it's time for another objective; the capture of Mariupol.

These seizures are heady potions of powerful ambition realized. They become addictive; once one has fallen -- take Crimea, for example -- others lure the jackals on to further ambitious looting of the geography of Ukraine. After all, if they were really intent on saving themselves, they could have fought a little harder, right? As for the ceasefire; what ceasefire, not the one that Ukraine has defaulted on, twice now, isn't it?

Of course Russia's opponents side with Ukraine in criticizing Vladimir Putin for his vulpine appetite. They are so wrong; he is a responsible and gracious world leader of a powerful nation whose concern is peace above all, and the sanctity of lives lost to a needless conflict. If only Ukraine would just stand down, or roll over nicely, then none of this would be necessary ....


The peace road map with its ceasefire and heavy weapons withdrawal was, after all, signed by Mr. Putin, was it not? There! ample evidence of his goodwill and intent. The artillery and rocket fire near Donetsk can be laid at the feet of Ukraine; the same for the grad rockets launched from the city centre. Ukraine not honouring the truce it signed of its own accord...! And the bloody nerve of President Poroshenko to invite a UN peacekeeping force to monitor and police the peace agreement!

How can Russia and the rebels trust anyone who doesn't in fact trust them? By urging the UN to assent in this matter, the Ukrainian president is effectively making an effort to "destroy" peace efforts. Mr. Poroshenko must bear in mind that full control of Ukraine's border with Russia will return only  once a full political settlement with the rebels is achieved.

Now, let's hear it again; who is winning the conflict that Ukraine has inflicted upon itself? And then excusing its failures by claiming that Moscow is conspiring against it?