Ukraine Ceasefire Is Crumbling

Members of the Ukrainian armed forces ride military vehicles near Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine, February 22, 2015. Credit: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Reuters: Kiev says cannot withdraw heavy weapons as attacks persist

(Reuters) - Kiev accused pro-Russian rebels of opening fire with rockets and artillery at villages in southeastern Ukraine on Monday, all but burying a week-old European-brokered ceasefire deal.

The Ukrainian military said it could not pull weapons from the front as required under the tenuous truce, as long as its troops were still under attack.

Ukraine's currency, nearly in freefall this month, fell a further 10 percent on Monday on fears that the truce could collapse.

WNU Editor: I am not optimistic. My friends, contacts, and family in Ukraine are all telling me the same thing .... ambushes, artillery fire, sniping, troop buildups .... it is the norm in the conflict zone and no one is interested in peace. What is more worrisome is the increase in deployment and the re-positioning of military forces (by both sides) for a continuation in this conflict. My prediction .... in the next few weeks the war will escalate to the ferocity that was seen last week during the battle for Debaltseve. The next battles will be for the port city of Mariupol and further north of this region.