EU Ministers to Hold Emergency Meeting on Ukraine
Source: Wall Street Journal
Ministers Will Likely Discuss Tightening Sanctions Against Russia
BRUSSELSEuropean Union foreign ministers will gather here in an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the EUs response to an assault by Russian-backed rebels on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, EU Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini said on Twitter on Sunday.
The ministers will likely discuss whether to tighten sanctions against Russia for the attack, which killed dozens of civilians on Saturday in the strategically important port city on the Sea of Azov, officials said. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the weekend said in response to the attack that governments need to know more about whether Moscow is trying to rein in the rebels or not.
Mariupol is near territory controlled by the rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces of eastern Ukraine, but Ukrainian forces have managed to retain control of the city since fighting in the country erupted nearly a year ago.
The attack came a day after the pro-Russian separatists announced they were pulling out of peace talks and launching a new offensive. Saturdays attack, the deadliest in terms of civilian losses in the region in months, signaled a possible escalation in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where a September cease-fire deal has never really taken hold.
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-ministers-to-hold-emergency-meeting-on-ukraine-1422204386
Putin's war on Ukraine is raging as Russian-backed forces seem to be arbitrarily bombing Ukrainian cities, full of civilians, without warning, so yeah EU maybe it's time you meet about this.
Russian mercenaries firing on Mariopul this weekend. Graphic warning:
roamer65
(36,905 posts)I suspect the Greek elections will be at the top of their list on Monday.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)Eastern Ukraine: Investigate deadly artillery strike on civilian bus
Shortly after the attack, pro-separatist news sites reported that the Ukrainian checkpoint had been destroyed. But a senior representative of the self-styled Donetsk Peoples Republic, the areas de facto authorities, later reportedly claimed their artillery was unable to reach the checkpoint.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/eastern-ukraine-investigate-deadly-artillery-strike-civilian-bus-2015-01-13
OSCE findings and response
The bus had shrapnel damage consistent with a nearby rocket impact, estimated by the SMM to be 12-15 meters from the side of the bus.
On January 17, the OSCE released its findings from conducting crater trajectory analysis, which determines the origin direction of the rockets that were fired towards the Volnovakha checkpoint. This claim further bolstered Ukraines initial claims and contradicted all of the DNRs claims, barring the possibility of a rogue Ukrainian artillery battalion operating from separatist-controlled territory in the north-northeast:
The SMM conducted a comprehensive inspection, focusing on five craters caused by explosions that had occurred during the incident. The investigation included comprehensive crater analysis of two specific blast craters, including the crater located 10 metres from the side of the passenger bus. In the SMMs assessment all craters examined were caused by rockets fired from a north-north-eastern direction.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2015/01/18/unpicking-the-donetsk-peoples-republics-tangled-volnovakha-bus-massacre-narrative/
newthinking
(3,982 posts)Interesting reading: This from Jan. 18th.
The current Ukraine war escalation was known and predicted.
- December: Turchynov (defense minister) publicly mentions the planned offensives in 2015.
- January 15th the mobilizations were approved in the Ukrainian Duma; conscription starts.
- Last week US trainers entered Ukraine.
In the interim, all hell breaks loose there.
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[font size=2]Ukrainian Leadership Decides in Favor of War[/font]
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=edit&forum=1016&thread=112384
bemildred
(90,061 posts)I don't know why they failed, but that was when.
http://www.thelocal.de/20150113/talks-fail-to-set-ukraine-peace-summit-date
newthinking
(3,982 posts)Maybe I have missed it? I was sick during that time so it is possible.
Even so, the way the press reports is amazing. Here today and then gone tomorrow. No understanding or recognition of a leads to b leads to c....
bemildred
(90,061 posts)But I figured we were due for another round of war right then. Once you decide not to talk, what else is there?
newthinking
(3,982 posts)it's share of the blame.
And the west will continue it's bias and mixed messages assuring more death and destruction
Igel
(35,892 posts)Three were directly clearly at Ukr force installations. The fourth was the largest, the reports said, and hit the civilians.