Eastern Ukraine: separatist offensive, questions about negotiations

Ukrainian soldier on guard near the village of Zolote, February 14, 2020. REUTERS / Oleksandr Klymenko

Text by: RFI Follow

Outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russian and Russian separatist forces launched an offensive on Ukrainian positions. The conflict that has been going on since spring 2014 has already killed more than 13,000 people, according to the UN. Despite daily artillery duels, the fighting was of low intensity. Also, the attack this morning worries about the prospects of holding peace negotiations.

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With our correspondent in Kiev, Sébastien Gobert

We had not seen such an offensive since 2015. According to the Ukrainians, it was at 5 am (Kiev time), that the separatists, supported by Russia, pounded their positions, to open the way for groups who tried to gain ground. The battle only died down after five hours of fierce confrontation.

High-profile assault

At least one Ukrainian soldier was killed, four others were injured. The losses on the separatist side are undetermined. The attack was widely publicized in Ukraine: it contrasts with the war of attrition and position which has been waged for several years. It also worries because it targeted an area close to trenches demilitarized by the belligerents in a coordinated manner in November 2019.

Provocation

Military disengagement is one of President Zelenskyy's initiatives to relaunch the peace process . The latter denounces a provocation to freeze negotiations again, while he says he is working with Vladimir Putin on a new summit meeting. His peace plan is widely criticized in Ukraine: this morning's deadly offensive is unlikely to build confidence in his search for compromise with Russia.

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  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • Vladimir Poutine
  • Volodymyr Zelensky

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