Monday, September 1, 2014

Ukraine Refuses Russia's Call For A Cease-Fire With Rebels



Russia Calls For Cease-Fire With Rebels, But Ukraine Vows To Keep Up The Fight -- Washington Post

MOSCOW — Russian officials pressed Ukraine on Monday to declare a cease-fire with separatists, but Ukrainians say they are locked in a war not just against the rebels but also against Russia — on behalf of Europe.

“A great war has come, the likes of which Europe has not seen since the Second World War,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey said on his Facebook page Monday, adding that the fight must go on to “show that Ukrainians are not going to give up.”

Lost territory, trapped soldiers and increasing reports of Russian tanks and troops operating in eastern Ukraine have changed the course of events in the past few days. Newly emboldened separatist forces are bearing down on strategic targets, such as the port city of Mariupol — which the Ukrainian military maintains it can defend — and the airport in Luhansk, where troops retreated in the face of a rebel onslaught Monday.

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My Comment: The rebels have dropped their demands for independence .... and are willing to accept autonomy in a Ukraine. This is a shift (albeit a small one) .... but like the offer for a ceasefire .... the government in Kiev is not interested.

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