Ukrainian Prime Minister: 'We Had Two Options – Bad, Or Worse'

Daily Mail: 'We had two options – bad, or worse': Ukrainian prime minister reveals the extent of how one-sided peace deal was… and how they do not believe Putin will stick to it

* Thirteen civilians killed during heavy clashes in past 24 hours
* Eleven soldiers killed and 40 wounded, Ukraine's military said in statement
* Deaths come as Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany broker ceasefire
* It is due to come into force on Sunday at one minute past midnight
* At least 5,486 people have been killed in 10 months of fighting
* Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk has spoken of his mistrust of the Russians
* Putin 'tried to delay ceasefire agreement to allow rebels to capture rail hub'

WNU Editor: Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk is one of the reasons why Ukraine is in the middle of a war right now .... and his continuing presence will only make the situation worse. But as much as he wants to focus on Russia and blame Russia for everything, the growing crisis is within his own government and parliament. Members of parliament are now openly fighting amongst themselves (see video), and ultra-Ukrainian nationalists with their militias in eastern Ukraine have made it clear that they are not going to respect the ceasefire agreement, but will continue to wage war and do everything in their power to destroy the Minsk agreement .... Right Sector to Continue Military Operation Regardless of Minsk Deal (Sputnik). More here.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 13, 2015

Wall Street Journal: Fighting Rages in Eastern Ukraine as Cease-Fire Deadline Approaches

Doubts Grow Over Implementation of Peace Deal Agreed to in Minsk

Ukraine descended into further violence on Friday as Kiev and Russia-backed separatists tried to expand and defend their territory before a cease-fire brokered by European leaders was due to come into effect.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 13, 2015

Ukraine battles persist before cease-fire deadline; 25 dead -- AP
Fighting rages in run-up to Ukraine ceasefire -- Reuters
Ukraine says 11 troops killed and 40 wounded, fighting reportedly increased since ceasefire agreement -- National Post/AP
Fighting continues in Ukraine despite looming cease-fire -- Washington Post
Ukraine crisis: Fierce fighting after Minsk peace deal -- BBC
Fighting continues ahead of Ukraine ceasefire -- CNN
Ukraine fighting surges ahead of cease-fire, at least 25 killed -- L.A. Times
Intense Fighting Reported In Eastern Ukraine Despite Ceasefire Deal -- RTT
Minsk ceasefire in balance as fighting escalates in eastern Ukraine -- The Guardian
Violence continues across eastern Ukraine despite new cease-fire deal -- Al Jazeera
Kyiv Officials: 11 Troops Killed Since Truce -- VOA
‘Long way from peace’: Over 10 civilians killed in E. Ukraine shelling after Minsk agreement -- RT
Kiev military says rebels building up forces in east Ukraine -- Reuters
Ukraine: Rebels react to Minsk ceasefire pact with ferocious onslaught in Debaltseve -- IBTimes
Donbas Ready to Honor Minsk Deal if Kiev Keeps Its Side of Bargain -- Sputnik
Kiev’s refusal to amnesty Donbas leaders shows reluctance to implement Minsk deal — DPR -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine's nationalist Right Sector rejects Minsk deals -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine: President Petro Poroshenko questions if ceasefire will take effect -- Euronews
Poroshenko Warns of Conflict Escalation Despite Successful Peace Talks -- Sputnik
Poroshenko says Ukraine still a long way from peace -- Reuters
Kiev to Demand EC Emergency Meeting if Sunday Ceasefire Deadline Not Met -- Sputnik
As Cease-Fire Nears, Europe Warily Watches Fighting In Ukraine -- NPR
U.S. Accuses Kremlin of Aiding Ukraine Rebels in Assault Ahead of Cease-Fire -- NYT
Ukraine ultranationalist leader rejects Minsk peace deal, reserves right 'to continue war' -- RT

Will The Ukraine War Intensify From Now Till The Start Of The Ceasefire On February 15?

Defending, and expanding, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.(Reuters/Alexander Ermochenko)

Quartz: Ukraine’s ceasefire gives separatists two days “to conquer as much territory as they can”

More than 12 hours into talks between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko emerged to tell reporters that there was “no good news yet” on a deal to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

WNU Editor: I doubt that the war is going to escalate right now for the purpose of seizing territory .... the momentum is to hold back and see what happens after February 15. But it is also true that the front-lines are very tense right now .... for example .... there are reports that Ukrainian forces tried to break out of the Debaltseve encirclement that resulted in heavy fighting. There are also Ukrainian military reports that Russian armor and soldiers entered Ukraine only yesterday .... destination unknown. Given the right provocation .... especially around the Debaltseve Cauldron .... this war can restart very quickly.

I am also troubled by what I am hearing from Ukrainian President Poroshenko on the political front. Even though the Minsk II agreement talks about autonomy and the need to change the constitution to reflect a federal state ....the Ukrainian President is now saying that he will not abide by it. If this is his position .... the Minsk agreement is for all intents and purposes dead.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 12, 2015

The Guardian: Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia rebels scramble for ground after ceasefire

Kiev claims Russia is building up military hardware as it tries to regain control of border following Minsk ceasefire agreement

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 12, 2015

Ukraine says rebels strengthened by tanks, missiles from Russia -- Reuters
Tanks Cross Border from Russia as New Ceasefire Is Signed -- Defense One/The Atlantic
Ukrainian army: Debaltseve and Mariupol areas key target of militants' strikes -- Kyiv Post
Fighting continues despite Ukraine truce agreement -- Al Jazeera
At least 1,550 soldiers killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine -- Kyiv Post
Kramatorsk attack shows new separatist firepower -- Kyiv Post
NATO says Ukraine escalation runs counter to spirit of Minsk -- Reuters
Ukraine’s Poroshenko points finger at rebels, expects difficulty implementing ceasefire -- Euronews
Donbas Forces Ready to Cease Fire in Debaltseve Area Immediately -- Sputnik
Ukraine's Donetsk republic vows to comply with ceasefire agreement as of Feb 15 -- ITAR-TASS
Separatist community in Donetsk downbeat on Ukraine ceasefire deal -- Euronews
Ukraine crisis: Life as a paramedic in war-torn Donetsk -- BBC
Fleeing war at home, Ukrainians seek security in Poland -- AFP
Left to die: With nowhere to run, civilians try to survive eastern Ukraine's war -- Christopher Miller & Evgeny Feldman, Mashable
How the War in Ukraine Tears Apart Families and Friends Online -- Global Voices
Donbas social payouts to resume after local elections, sovereignty restoration - Poroshenko -- Kyiv Post
Ukraine to get $40-billion in funding, IMF chief says -- Reuters

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials On The Ukraine Peace Agreement

Dennis Lynch, IBTimes: Ukraine Ceasefire Agreement: Who Came Out On Top In Minsk?

A 17-hour negotiating marathon in Minsk, Belarus, among Russian, Ukrainian, German and French leaders over the crisis in Ukraine ended Thursday morning with both Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists giving concessions to end fighting in the east of the country. Doubt over how long the new Minsk agreement will last, including its ceasefire set to go into effect on Sunday, are widespread.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials On The Ukraine Peace Agreement

Ukraine ceasefire: Who wins, who loses -- AP
Ukraine’s new peace deal: The good, the bad, the ugly -- Dan Peleschuk, Global Post
The Guardian view on the chances the new Ukraine ceasefire will last -- Guardian editorial
Ukraine crisis: Who benefits from the Minsk peace deal -- Bridget Kendall, BBC
The Best- and (Likely) Worst-Case Scenarios for Ukraine’s New Peace Deal -- Joshua Keating, Slate
Minsk Talks Offer Cease-Fire, But No Peace -- Ivan Nechepurenko, Moscow Times
A Flawed Deal In Minsk -- Radio Free Europe
Interpretations of Ukraine Cease-Fire Pact Could Clash -- VOA
Implementation Will Determine the Minsk Deal's Significance -- Stratfor
Putin’s Second Useless Ukraine Ceasefire -- Anna Nemtsova, Daily Beast
5 things for new Ukraine cease-fire to hold -- Oren Dorell, USA Today
Ukraine cease-fire: Can it avert slide into wider war? -- Howard La Franchi, CSM
Analysis: Ukraine Accord May Not End Conflict -- Al Pessin, VOA
What happens after Ukraine peace deal? -- Laura Smith-Spark and Nic Robertson, CNN
Kiev, rebels sign cease-fire, but Ukraine's path to peace remains steep -- Fred Weir, CSM
Ukraine cease-fire agreed but doubts persist it will bring peace -- Sergei L. Loiko and Carol J. Williams, L.A. Times
The Minsk Agreement Can Only Work If Power Is Balanced Between Russia and the West -- Ivan Sukhov, Huffington Post/Moscow Times
West Must Either Commit to Ukraine or Back Off -- Dmitry Gorenburg, Moscow Times
How Putin Came Out On Top in Ukraine Ceasefire Deal -- Simon Shuster, Time
Putin Emerges Stronger as Ukraine Deal Averts Escalation Threat -- Henry Meyer, Bloomberg
Russia-Ukraine Cease-Fire: What Did Putin Agree To? -- Bloomberg
What brought Vladimir Putin to the table over Ukraine, and how to keep him there -- Robin Niblett, Reuters
Ceasefire deal seen as just another victory for Putin -- Mark MacKinnon, Globe and Mail
To solve Ukraine crisis, Europe breaks from the US -- John Batchelor, Al Jazeera
Ukraine Deal: Keeping Russia In, U.S. Out -- Seth Mandel, Commentary
Minsk Memes: Two Dictators, Two Presidents, A Chancellor, And A Chair -- Radio Free Europe

Ukraine Peace Agreement -- News Roundup (Updated)

Wall Street Journal: Five Things to Know About the Ukraine Truce Deal

An all-night summit between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France sealed a fresh agreement Thursday for a cease-fire between Ukraine and Moscow-backed militants. The deal was signed by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the militants and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The hours of negotiating delivered mixed results for Russia, Ukraine and the rebels, and officials conceded it was unlikely to be a final resolution to the monthslong conflict.

Ukraine Peace Agreement -- News Updates (Evening Edition)

Factbox: Minsk agreement on Ukraine -- Reuters
A look at who got what in peace deal for eastern Ukraine -- AP
Details of the Ukraine Cease-Fire Negotiated in Minsk -- New York Times
Ukraine cease-fire: Key points of the new truce -- Mashable
The Terms of Ukraine's Cease-Fire -- Stratfor
Ukraine ceasefire includes foreign troop withdrawals, constitutional reforms -- CBC
Ukraine crisis: EU warns Russia over Ukraine agreement -- BBC
Ukraine's NATO Bid Was Not Discussed in Minsk - Poroshenko -- Sputnik
Ukraine ceasefire deal will be tough to implement, Poroshenko says -- Delje.com
U.S. hails Minsk accord but warns of new "escalation" in Ukraine -- FOX News/EFE
Leaders agree Ukraine peace roadmap but scepticism remains -- AFP
Ukraine ceasefire: European leaders sceptical peace plan will work -- The Guardian
EU extremely wary about Ukraine peace deal, cease-fire -- AP
EU will 'take necessary steps' if Ukraine pact breached: Tusk -- AFP
U.N. hopes genuine ceasefire will emerge from Ukraine deal -- Reuters
World leaders cautiously welcome new Ukraine peace deal -- Deutsche Welle
More sanctions possible if Ukraine ceasefire fails-Merkel -- Reuters
EU Stands by Russia Sanctions After Minsk Cease-Fire Deal -- Bloomberg
U.S. plays down new Russia sanctions as ceasefire deal eyed -- Reuters
US Give Cautious Welcome to Ukraine Ceasefire Deal -- Novinite
Ukraine ceasefire deal: US cautiously optimistic amid ‘escalation of fighting’ -- The Guardian
Putin’s Cease-Fire Meets Market Skepticism as More Fighting Seen -- Bloomberg
Ukrainians cautiously optimistic about ceasefire – video -- The Guardian
Coffee and milk 'fuelled Ukraine ceasefire deal' - Belarus -- BBC
Ukraine talks: behind the scenes at the Minsk meeting in memes -- The Guardian

Ukraine Peace Agreement - News Updates (Morning Edition)

Marathon talks produce Ukraine peace deal; cease-fire Sunday -- AP
Marathon Ukraine talks end with peace deal -- AP
Ukraine's warring parties agree to February 15 ceasefire -- France 24
Ukraine crisis: Leaders agree peace roadmap -- BBC
Eastern Ukraine Cease-fire Deal Reached -- VOA
Leaders Announce Plan for Ukraine Cease-Fire -- New York Times
Ukraine Peace Deal Calls for Military Buffer Zone, Elections -- Bloomberg
Ukraine Peace Talks Yield Cease-Fire Deal -- WSJ
Ukraine ceasefire deal reached after marathon Minsk talks -- CNN
Ukraine cease-fire deal announced after marathon Minsk talks -- FOX News
Leaders agree on Ukraine peace roadmap -- Al Jazeera
Ukraine Conflict: Cease-Fire Announced by World Leaders in Minsk -- NBC
Vladimir Putin announces ceasefire deal for Ukraine -- The Telegraph
Leaders agree Ukraine peace deal after marathon talks -- USA Today
Putin backs troop and heavy weapons withdrawal as part of Ukraine ceasefire -- Euronews
Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian peace deal has been agreed and Russian rebels will begin withdrawing heavy artillery from Sunday after marathon talks -- Daily Mail
Four leaders agree to respect Ukraine sovereignty-Kremlin -- Reuters
Ukraine's Poroshenko says ceasefire to come into force from Sunday -- Reuters
Ukraine peace deal: Ceasefire starting February 15, removal of heavy weapons -- RT
Normandy Group Reach Verbal Agreement on Ukraine Reconciliation - German FM -- Sputnik
Donetsk, Luhansk Leaders Sign Minsk Deal on Ukraine - Hollande -- Sputnik
Pro-Russian Rebels Sign Roadmap for Implementation of Minsk Agreement -- Novinite
Merkel says Putin pressured Ukraine rebels to accept ceasefire -- Reuters
France, Germany to Help 'Verify' Ukraine Cease-Fire Deal -- NYT/AP
'Glimmer of hope' for Ukraine after deal at Minsk peace summit -- Reuters
Merkel Sees 'Beam of Hope' After Ukraine Reconciliation Talks in Minsk -- Sputnik
German foreign minister: Minsk deal not all we would have wished for -- Reuters
Russia-Ukraine Cease-Fire: What Did Putin Agree To? -- Bloomberg

Leaders Agree To A Ukraine Ceasefire -- A News Roundup

The Guardian: Ukraine ceasefire deal agreed at Minsk talks

Ceasefire will come into force on Sunday, but Hollande and Merkel say much work still to be done after marathon overnight negotiations

The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany have reached a ceasefire deal after 17 hours of talks in Minsk, Belarus, on the Ukrainian conflict.

The ceasefire will come into force on Sunday as part of a deal that also involves the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line.

WNU Editor: I am personally not optimistic that this deal will last. This agreement is similar to what was signed last year .... but just like in Minsk One ..... in Minsk Two the mechanisms to achieve its goals are undefined or too general to be implemented. What was revealing was that If Putin did not put pressure on the pro-Russian rebel leadership they would not have signed, and if Merkel and Hollande did not put pressure on Poroshenko .... he would not have signed. From my analysis they did this agreement to try and stop the escalation in fighting ..... nothing less and nothing more. My prediction .... both sides will publicly state that they are in favor of the agreement and will abide by it .... but privately they will position their forces and prepare themselves for the next fight.

Update: This is not a good sign .... Poroshenko: no agreement on rebel autonomy (AP) .... especially since the agreement does call for it (at least in the Russian text that I have just read). If this is the case .... the civil war will continue.

Update #2: This is a good analysis of the talks and of the agreement .... Ukraine peace deal looks fragile in the extreme (Simon Tisdall, The Guardian).

Leaders Agree To A Ukraine Ceasefire -- A News Roundup

The Minsk ceasefire deal, point by point -- RT
Key sticking points in Ukraine peace talks: borders/buffers -- AP
The Minsk ceasefire deal in 5 tweets -- RT
Ukraine peace deal: what was agreed in Minsk -- The Telegraph
Marathon Ukraine talks end with peace deal -- AP
Ukraine's warring parties agree to February 15 ceasefire -- France 24
Ukraine crisis: Leaders agree peace roadmap -- BBC
Eastern Ukraine Cease-fire Deal Reached -- VOA
Leaders Announce Plan for Ukraine Cease-Fire -- New York Times
Ukraine Peace Deal Calls for Military Buffer Zone, Elections -- Bloomberg
Ukraine Peace Talks Yield Cease-Fire Deal -- WSJ
Ukraine ceasefire deal reached after marathon Minsk talks -- CNN
Ukraine cease-fire deal announced after marathon Minsk talks -- FOX News
Leaders agree on Ukraine peace roadmap -- Al Jazeera
Ukraine Conflict: Cease-Fire Announced by World Leaders in Minsk -- NBC
Vladimir Putin announces ceasefire deal for Ukraine -- The Telegraph
Leaders agree Ukraine peace deal after marathon talks -- USA Today
Putin backs troop and heavy weapons withdrawal as part of Ukraine ceasefire -- Euronews
Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian peace deal has been agreed and Russian rebels will begin withdrawing heavy artillery from Sunday after marathon talks -- Daily Mail
Four leaders agree to respect Ukraine sovereignty-Kremlin -- Reuters
Ukraine's Poroshenko says ceasefire to come into force from Sunday -- Reuters
Ukraine peace deal: Ceasefire starting February 15, removal of heavy weapons -- RT
Normandy Group Reach Verbal Agreement on Ukraine Reconciliation - German FM -- Sputnik
Donetsk, Luhansk Leaders Sign Minsk Deal on Ukraine - Hollande -- Sputnik
Pro-Russian Rebels Sign Roadmap for Implementation of Minsk Agreement -- Novinite
Merkel says Putin pressured Ukraine rebels to accept ceasefire -- Reuters
France, Germany to Help 'Verify' Ukraine Cease-Fire Deal -- NYT/AP
'Glimmer of hope' for Ukraine after deal at Minsk peace summit -- Reuters
Merkel Sees 'Beam of Hope' After Ukraine Reconciliation Talks in Minsk -- Sputnik
German foreign minister: Minsk deal not all we would have wished for -- Reuters
Russia-Ukraine Cease-Fire: What Did Putin Agree To? -- Bloomberg

The Putin - Poroshenko Handshake

Business Insider: Here's Putin rubbing his hands together after addressing Ukraine's president at peace talks

Ukrainian President Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart reluctantly shook hands before sitting together with Germany’s Merkel and France’s Hollande to broker a deal on Ukraine in Minsk, Belarus, on Wednesday.

WNU Editor: The above video clip is priceless. I can spend hours just analyzing everything about it.

Ukraine Is Having Problems Finding Conscripts For Its Army

Ukrainian servicemen ride in a tank past outside Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine, where fierce fighting has been going on. Photograph: Reuters

The Guardian: Ukraine: draft dodgers face jail as Kiev struggles to find new fighters

Journalist Ruslan Kotsaba, arrested after refusing to fight in video addressed to Petro Poroshenko, is among many weary of conflict that has killed 5,000

Previous Post: Ukraine's Anti-War And Anti-Draft Movement Is Growing

WNU Editor: This Guardian post confirms what my friends in Ukraine are telling me .... it is the Western part .... the region where Ukrainian nationalism is the strongest .... that resistance to be conscripted into the Ukraine army is the strongest.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 11, 2015

Daily Mail: Slaughtered on their way to work: Hours ahead of world leaders' Ukraine peace talks, five people are killed in rush-hour mortar attack at bus stop

* Shelling in central Donetsk left up to five dead and nine others injured
* Buses were seen completely burnt out with pools of blood on the floor
* At least one body was seen by independent witnesses at the scene
* Elsewhere 19 soldiers were killed and 78 wounded in fighting in Debaltseve
* Deaths came just hours before world leaders prepare to meet in Minsk
* Leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany will take part in crunch talks over the ongoing conflict in the east of the country

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 11, 2015

Donetsk republic says more than 2,300 Ukrainian servicemen killed over past 25 days -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine conflict: Death toll rises ahead of peace talks -- BBC
Leaders start Ukraine peace summit as bloodshed mounts -- AFP
Ukraine fighting shifts to Mariupol as diplomats meet -- UPI
Battered Ukrainian City of Mariupol Braces for Worst as Rebels Close In -- NYT
Forlorn Ukraine city: Death comes calling from the skies -- CNN
US Army commander for Europe: Russian troops are currently fighting on Ukraine's front lines -- Business Insider
Croats are fighting in Ukraine — Croatia FM -- ITAR-TASS
US military to train Kiev troops fighting in E. Ukraine – US Army commander -- RT
US sending around 600 paratroopers to Ukraine to train troops -- FOX News
Analysis: Ukraine War Escalates as Leaders Gather in Minsk for Peace Talks -- Bill Neely, NBC
Disconnect between diplomacy, reality in Ukraine -- CNN
What a U.S. Military Aid Package to Ukraine Would Look Like -- Moscow Times
Arming Ukraine Risks Bolstering Rebels as Obama Weighs Options -- Christopher Jasper, Bloomberg
Analysis: Will arming Ukraine deter or provoke disaster? -- Harlan Ullman, UPI
Study suggests arming Ukraine would prolong conflict -- Deutsche Welle
Sending arms to Ukraine won't work -- Michael Kofman, CNN
3 reasons the U.S. should not arm Ukraine -- Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post
Ukraine: Everything you need to know about how we got here -- Nick Thompson, CNN

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and France's President Francois Hollande attend a meeting on resolving the Ukrainian crisis in Minsk, February 11, 2015. REUTERS/Mykola Lazarenko/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service

The Ukraine Peace Talks At Minsk Are Now Underway

Reuters: Ukraine peace talks begin, overshadowed by fighting

The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine began peace talks in Belarus on Wednesday, while in Ukraine pro-Moscow separatists tightened the pressure on Kiev by launching some of the war's worst fighting.

The Kiev army said 19 of its soldiers were killed in a day of pro-Russian separatist assaults near the railway town of Debaltseve, some of the worst losses it has reported in nine months of war.

More News On The Start Of The Ukraine Peace Talks At Minsk

Ukraine crisis: Minsk peace talks - live -- The Telegraph
Ukraine conflict: Putin shakes hands with Poroshenko as talks begin -- BBC
Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel, Hollande start talks on Ukraine settlement -- ITAR-TASS
Leaders in Minsk for Crucial Ukraine Peace Talks -- AP
Peace talks in Minsk get underway as fighting in Ukraine continues -- Euronews
World Leaders Meet in Belarus to Negotiate Cease-Fire in Ukraine -- NYT
Leaders Begin High-Stakes Summit on Ukraine Cease-Fire -- WSJ
Leaders gather in Minsk for Ukraine crisis summit -- CNN
Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany: All set for Minsk -- Deutsche Welle
Russia's Putin to take part in Ukraine talks in Minsk -- Reuters
Poroshenko: Ukraine conflict risks spiralling out of control -- The Guardian
What's at stake as Putin, Poroshenko meet in Minsk to talk peace -- Mashable
Positions before Minsk summit on Ukraine -- Reuters
Key sticking points in Ukraine peace talks: borders/buffers -- AP
Ukraine conflict: Back to Minsk with so much at stake -- Lyse Doucet, BBC

Ukraine's Anti-War And Anti-Draft Movement Is Growing

Justin Raimondo, Zero Hedge/Anti-War: Ukrainians Rage Against Military Draft: "We're Sick Of This War"

When Ukrainian army officers came to the Ukrainian village of Velikaya Znamenka to tell the men to prepare to be drafted, they weren’t prepared for what happened next. As the commanding officer was speaking, a woman seized the microphone and proceeded to tell him off: "We’re sick of this war! Our husbands and sons aren’t going anywhere!" She then launched into a passionate speech, denouncing the war, and the coup leaders in Kiev, to the cheers of the crowd.

WNU Editor: Justin Raimondo is a writer for Anti-War.com .... so his opinion is predictable. But he is correct on the growing anti-draft/anti-war movement in Ukraine .... many people in Ukraine do not want to fight in this war, and those who want this war .... are conspicuously absent on the front lines. On a side note .... when World War II broke out my father ... who was 19 at the time .... was drafted into the Soviet Army but his first duty after basic training was to be a part of a unit that was a press gang responsible for seizing Ukrainians of military age into the Soviet Army. My father only talked about that experience once to me and I will never forget on how much he hated being a part of it .... these incidences almost always ended violently .... coupled with the fact that since many Ukrainians at the time regarded the invading Nazis as liberators .... only made them more determined to not join the Red Army. My father's best friend at the time was killed because he resisted a press-gang .... and the animosities that were created by such actions lasted way after the war had ended. Flash forward to today .... Ukraine is repeating its history .... and I can guarantee this .... the animosities and bitterness that are now being created are going to last a few decades ... and for some people .... they will never get over it.

This Is The Man Who Has United Ukraine's Rebels

Reuters: Ex-electrician backed by Putin helps unite Ukraine rebels

(Reuters) - Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko will not be present at a summit on east Ukraine this week but his actions will help determine the success or failure of any peace deal.

While Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen in the West as holding the key to peace, Zakharchenko is regarded vital for ensuring Moscow’s decisions are implemented.

The 38-year former mine electrician, who often carries a pistol and knife and usually wears combat fatigues, has been tightening his grip on power since being named prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) last August.

A Donetsk native, he has succeeded where a succession of Russians parachuted in by Moscow failed - by bringing at least a semblance of unity and authority to the ragtag separatists.

WNU Editor: The above video is very revealing .... his bodyguard gets hit by a sniper but Zakharchenko doesn't even flinch .... he just keeps on talking to the reporter. As to what is my take on separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko .... I know who and what these men are because they remind me of my Ukrainian - Russian father. They are hard-core, stubborn, thick headed, uncompromising, and very determined .... especially if they believe that they are right ... and their one big weakness (and it is also their strength) is that sometimes they do not know when to stop. That is why I know that these men do not care if this conflict lasts one week or ten years .... they are determined and they will probably get what they want in the end .... an autonomous Donetsk/Luhansk region within Ukraine .... or an independent country. And for those who think that life would be easier if he is killed today .... I say that there are many more like him just waiting to take his place to continue the fight .... all that his death would mean is that he is now a martyr .... which is something that he would probably fancy. As to Putin being able to control someone like him and his many followers .... no way .... impossible .... and that is something that the West (especially their political elites) just cannot .... and probably never will .... fully understand.

Ukrainians Struggle For Normalcy As The War Rages Only An Hour Or Two Away By Car

Voice of America: On Ukraine Battle Fringes, Civilians Struggle for Normalcy

KRAMATORSK, UKRAINE - While battles rage daily in some parts of eastern Ukraine, not far away -- in areas the government took back from the Russian-backed rebels last summer -- people are doing their best to live normal lives, while keeping a wary eye on the shifting front lines.

Update: Life under shelling in eastern Ukraine: a battle to survive (AP)

WNU Editor: My aunt lives with her husband in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv .... and even though the front lines are about 300 km away .... they are very nervous.

Pictures From The Front Lines Of Ukraine (Photo Gallery)

Empty shell casings outside Yenakieve, a rebel-held town 10 miles south of Vuhlehirsk. The war has been dominated by retrograde artillery exchanges in recent months: Ukrainian officials say shelling accounts for 70% of casualties among government forces. Max Avdeev for BuzzFeed News

Buzzfeed: War Is Hell: Pictures From The Front Lines Of Ukraine

Photographer Max Avdeev reports from eastern Ukraine for BuzzFeed News to capture the catastrophic affects of the ongoing war on the region.

WNU Editor: When this war is all over it will take years of effort and billions to repair .... but the psychological scars and the divisions that this war has caused is going to last for generations.

Video Footage Captures A Rocket Attack On A Residential Area Of Ukraine

Daily Mail: Terrifying footage of rocket attack launched in residential area of Ukraine that has left at least six civilians dead

* Six civilians killed in rocket attack on Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine
* Military headquarters also hit during two minute long bombardment
* Scene of the strikes is more than 30 miles from the front-lines
* Said the rockets had been fired from the rebel-controlled Horlivka area
* Increase in fighting comes ahead of peace talks in the region

Update: 'We are safe nowhere': Multiple civilians killed in Ukraine rocket attack -- Mashable

WNU Editor: My father told me that one of the most terrifying moments in his life occurred during a Russian rocket attack during the Second World War .... where friendly fire almost ended with him being killed. They had just taken a German position where they then saw from a short distance a wave of Russian katyusha rockets heading their way. Within a minute they were engulfed by its fire power resulting in half of the soldiers being killed. My father survived because he and a few others were able to jump into a bunker to avoid the shrapnel that was flying around .... but he lost a part of his hearing which stayed with him for his entire life. Seeing the above video reminds me of what my father said to me years ago .... you see the wave of rocket fire coming your way .... and there is really nothing that you can do about it but watch it and pray that it will not reach you.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 10, 2015

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Washington Post: Day before crucial Ukrainian peace summit, heavy fighting in nation’s east

MOSCOW — Fighting expanded in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, a day ahead of planned peace talks, with both Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels claiming advances as a key Ukrainian-held town far behind the front lines was shelled for the first time in months.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 10, 2015

Agreement on Ukraine cease-fire deal is reported -- NYT
Ukraine contact group representatives deny ceasefire deal in Minsk -- Reuters

Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine Before Planned Minsk Peace Talks -- WSJ
Ukraine conflict: Battles rage ahead of Minsk talks -- BBC
Fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine ahead of peace talks -- AP
Ukraine crisis: both sides launch offensives to seize ground ahead of Minsk talks -- The Telegraph
Russian military on the move ahead of Ukraine talks in Minsk -- Deutsche Welle
New violence in Ukraine diminishes hopes before four-way summit -- Reuters
Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine Ahead of Peace Talks -- NYT/AP
Ukraine launches Mariupol offensive on rebels ahead of Minsk talks -- IBTimes
Ukrainian forces launch offensive near Mariupol, east Ukraine: Kiev -- Reuters
Ukraine troops, rebels both claim advances -- CBS/AP
Fighting intensifies in Ukraine in run-up to Wednesday’s peace talks in Minsk -- Euronews
Fighting in eastern Ukraine intensifies ahead of planned peace summit -- FOX News
Kiev Claims Special Operations HQ Hit by DPR Rockets -- Sputnik
Missiles strike eastern Ukrainian town, killing at least 15 -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times
7 dead, 16 civilians injured in rocket attack on Kramatorsk, E. Ukraine – reports -- RT
Seven killed in rocket strikes on Kramatorsk, east Ukraine: regional administration -- Reuters
Ukraine says civilians killed in rocket attack in east -- Al Jazeera
Seven soldiers die in latest Ukraine fighting -- Business Standard
Militia have information Kiev is preparing attack on Donetsk — DPR Defense Ministry -- ITAR-TASS
U.S. wants to drag Russia into Ukraine conflict: RIA -- Reuters
UK keeping decision not to arm Ukraine 'under review', won't allow military collapse -- Reuters
Obama Will Allow New Push for Peace Before Deciding on Arms for Ukraine -- WSJ
Obama Awaits Outcome of Ukraine Peace Talks Before Deciding on Arms -- NYT
Extra Arms to Kiev Depend on Russia New Minsk Deal Adherence - White House -- Sputnik
EU awaits Minsk results before new Russia sanctions -- Deutsche Welle
Ukraine asked Russia to restructure debt: Russian finance minister at G20 -- Reuters
G7 powers, IMF considering much larger Ukraine aid package -- Reuters
Life under shelling in eastern Ukraine: a battle to survive -- AP
Ukraine conflict: Timeline -- Euronews

Little Optimism Ahead Of Ukraine Peace Talks In Minsk

Euronews: Little optimism ahead of Ukraine peace talks in Minsk

Last year’s Minsk agreement failed to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine and there is little reason for optimism about the latest peace talks in the capital of Belarus.

A Russian source has been quoted as saying that there are no plans to sign a document to resolve the conflict and that the creation of a demilitarised zone would be the main talking point.

WNU Editor: I have no reasons to be optimistic. Both sides are not budging from their stated positions, and while some are speculating that today's intense battles were an indication that a ceasefire may be called and military positions locked .... I just do not see that happening. To end this conflict Ukraine will have to concede to a number of points that I know Ukrainian President Poroshenko will never agree to .... autonomy, withdrawal of Ukrainian military and security forces from Donetsk and Luhansk, and a commitment to work in revising the constitution to reflect a federal state. This will end the conflict right away .... but I know that it is not going to happen.

What I do expect after tomorrow's talks is a joint statement outlining a framework for future discussions on the establishment of a demilitarized zone and a commitment to withdraw heavy weapons. After that statement is released .... German Chancellor Merkel must then be actively involved in pushing the peace process further ... but it is not going to be easy ... and I predict that it will fail. Ukraine is at a pivotal moment in its history right now .... unfortunately .... I just do not see any willingness on both sides to do the necessary compromises and accommodations to end this conflict .... what I see and hear is the opposite and an even stronger desire to escalate the war.

If there was a time when I hope that I was 100% wrong .... it is now. But from what I hear, read, and see .... no one is listening to their better angels right now.

More News On Tomorrow's Minsk Peace Talks On Ukraine

Positions before Minsk summit on Ukraine -- Reuters
Minsk talks to focus on demilitarised zone in east Ukraine-RIA -- Reuters
Leaders locked in Minsk talks on Ukraine ceasefire -- The Guardian
Germany: Top-level talks on Ukraine peace resuming in Minsk -- AP
Ukraine's Poroshenko says Minsk talks 'last chance' for true ceasefire -- Reuters
Demilitarized zone, Kiev-Donetsk dialogue to be focus of Normandy 4 talks in Minsk - source -- RT
Germany's Steinmeier: questions still to resolve ahead of Ukraine summit -- Reuters
Contact Group agrees heavy troops withdrawal, ceasefire regime -- ITAR-TASS
Obama called Ukraine's Poroshenko on ceasefire, peace deal: White House -- Reuters
Ukraine Summit Expected As Fighting Rages -- Radio Free Europe
It didn't work before. So why is Ukraine seeking a new peace deal? -- Richard Allen Greene, CNN
Russia Must Forget Yalta and Face Facts in Minsk -- Vladimir Ryzhkov, Moscow Times

Russian News Service: Ukraine Ceasefire Agreement Reached. (Update: No Deal Reached)

Denis Pushilin, representative of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, speaks to the media after the meeting of the so-called Contact Group on eastern Ukraine, which brings together representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Russian-backed separatist rebels and the OSCE European security watchdog, at the Dipservice Hall in Minsk February 10, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko

New York Times: Agreement on Ukraine Cease-Fire Deal Is Reported

MOSCOW — Negotiators meeting in Minsk, Belarus, reached a tentative deal for a cease-fire in Ukraine on Tuesday night, setting the stage for a meeting of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France to sign the agreement on Wednesday, according to media reports.

WNU Editor: I know that all sides have had their negotiators at work Minsk today and there is no official confirmation .... but I will be surprised if an agreement has been reached.

Update: No deal has been reached .... Ukraine contact group representatives deny ceasefire deal in Minsk (Reuters).