Sunday Times 2
Ceasefire looms as fresh Ukraine fighting kills 28
View(s):DONETSK, Ukraine, Feb 14 (AFP) -Fighting has raged on in Ukraine, throwing doubts on a ceasefire deal due to take effect over the weekend, with the US saying Russia is still deploying heavy arms and Kiev warning that shelling of civilians had intensified.
A newly mobilised soldier rides on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) during training at the 169th training centre of Ukrainian ground forces "Desna" in the Chernihiv region (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Friday that the continuing bombardment of civilians in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian separatist rebels was already undermining the peace plan reached in Minsk a day before.
At least 28 civilians and soldiers were reported killed in the latest upsurge in fighting.
“Unfortunately after the Minsk agreement, Russia’s offensive has significantly increased. We still think that the agreement is in great danger,” Poroshenko said during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“After what we concluded in Minsk, these are not only attacks against civilians but also against the Minsk agreement,” he added, referring to the shelling of the town of Artemivsk that killed three people including a seven-year-old.
The ceasefire, due to take effect from 2200 GMT today, will be the first test of the commitment by Kiev and pro-Russian separatists to the freshly-inked peace plan.
But with separatists fighting to conquer more territory ahead of the truce and Kiev forces digging in, there are fears over whether anyone will observe the truce, considered vital to the success of the peace roadmap.
The UN Security Council is expected to meet on Sunday for an emergency session to shore up the ceasefire deal, diplomats said.