The US and Ukraine Accuse Russia of Violating the Minsk Peace Agreement

In response to the ongoing clashes in eastern Ukraine, which intensified just one day after the ceasefire agreement, the US accused Russia and Russian-backed separatists of violating the 'spirit of the agreement.' According to the Associated Press, Jen Psaki, the spokesperson for the US State Department, expressed concerns on Friday, February 12, about the continued fighting at the front lines and beyond, including in densely populated civilian areas, as well as reports of renewed transfers of tanks and missile systems from Russia to Ukraine in recent days. Psaki emphasized that the United States has learned that Russia is planning to send a large military shipment to Ukrainian rebels. She stated that this is a clear violation of the recent agreement, which includes an immediate halt to attacks by Russia and separatists on Debaltseve and other Ukrainian cities. Just one day after the peace agreement was signed to end ten months of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government, at least 27 more people have been killed in the region. The Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing rebels in the Donetsk region, that the Ukrainian army lost about 100 personnel in the past 24 hours. However, a report from Agence France-Presse indicates that at least 27 soldiers and civilians were killed in the recent day's clashes. These clashes occur as the European Union has warned Russia about the imposition of new sanctions. Separatists and the Kyiv government agreed on Thursday to a comprehensive peace plan that was prepared after hours of talks between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. According to this agreement, a ceasefire will be established in the conflict areas in eastern Ukraine from midnight on Sunday, Ukrainian time, and the parties involved must withdraw their heavy weapons from the front lines within less than two days after the ceasefire is established. Although this fragile agreement has created new hopes for ending the conflict, which has claimed 5,480 victims so far, doubts remain as similar peace plans have not lasted long. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia on Friday of intensifying its attacks on Ukrainian territory since the ceasefire agreement was signed. He stated, 'Unfortunately, Russian attacks have significantly increased after the Minsk agreement. We believe that a great danger threatens this agreement.' The Ukrainian president also told soldiers near Kyiv on Friday morning that there is a long and difficult road to peace, and any other notion would be a simplification and delusion. He emphasized that 'no one can say with certainty that the conditions of the peace agreement signed in Minsk will be fulfilled.' Kyiv and the West accuse Russia of instigating war in this former Soviet republic by sending weapons and soldiers to assist Russian-backed rebels, an accusation that Moscow has always denied. In this context, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Russia that the European Union, which has previously imposed sanctions on Russia due to this crisis, will impose more sanctions if the ceasefire fails. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military sources reported on Friday that intense fighting continues around the strategic city of Debaltseve. The United States, which had previously indicated it would send weapons to Ukraine if fighting continued, welcomed the peace agreement but stressed that more actions are needed to solidify this agreement. After the peace agreement was signed, the White House stated that 'the real test of the agreement will be its full and unambiguous implementation, including the re-establishment of Ukrainian government control over its borders with Russia.' Rebel leaders have said that the new agreement raises hopes but have also warned that if this plan fails, there will be no further negotiations. The new Minsk agreement is very similar to the previous failed plan signed in September, with the difference that in the new plan, the depth of the demilitarized zone will range from 50 to 140 kilometers depending on the range of weapons, which is twice the depth specified in the September agreement. The re-establishment of Ukrainian government control over the 400-kilometer border with Russia will occur after local elections. This border is currently completely under the control of Russia and the rebels and is believed by Kyiv to be used as a passage for Russia to send aid to the rebels. Although the Kremlin denies this, it also opposes the re-establishment of Ukrainian control over the border. This agreement also includes granting autonomy and the right to choose the language used to the region under the control of separatists. The International Monetary Fund announced on Thursday that it has reached an agreement with the Ukrainian government for a $17 billion aid package. Including this amount, the total international aid that the Ukrainian government will receive over the next four years will be $440 billion.