Continuing Conflict in Eastern Ukraine Draws Criticism From Ukrainian President, German Chancellor
Almost two years after the Russian annexation of Crimea, Eastern Ukraine is still gripped by warfare and tension as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko renews his criticisms of Russia. According to Kyiv Post, on Monday Poroshenko accused Russia of faltering on an agreed ceasefire by sending in weapons to the conflict-torn east.
“Russia and militants are not interested in establishing peace and stability in Donbas. For Russia, the conflict in Donbas is a tool to continue destabilization in Ukraine,” Poroshenko claimed.
Russia repeatedly denied supporting the insurgents.
The conflict in Eastern Ukraine has been ongoing since the Euromaidan protests in November 2013. According to a recent UN report, over 9,000 people have been killed in 21 months of conflict to date.
With continued warfare, many European leaders and international organization are beginning to doubt the efficacy of the ceasefire, which was established in February 2015 with the Minsk II agreement.
In Donbas, pro-Russian separatists continue shelling the Ukrainian forces. Poroshenko announced that last month Russian-backed troops performed approximately 40 shellings a day in the Donbas region.
According to the Wall Street Journal, these Russian-backed Donbas militants continue to hold over 140 Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, and journalists prisoner.
Amidst criticism from Ukraine, separatist news outlet from the Donbas region accused the Ukrainian forces of reciprocal attacks, demonstrating total failure to abide by the terms of the ceasefire from both sides.
German chancellor Angela Merkel shared Poroshenko’s dismay over the failure to effectively implement Minsk II at a press conference in Berlin. She also voiced the concern shared by many Western European leaders of "[getting] industrial growth back in the Ukraine as quickly as possible."
Merkel, who helped to broker the Minsk summit, has repeatedly expressed distress over the lack of progress in the region and the inability of regional powers to conform to the ceasefire agreement, which is seen by many as the only feasible path to ending the conflict in the region.
Due to the inability of Russia and Ukraine to effectively implement the Minsk agreement, Europe continued sanctions against Russia, causing serious economic damage to a country already injured by plunging oil prices and a weak rouble.
Continued destabilization in the region might only further ravage eastern European economies and will likely provoke more rash actions from President Putin. Historically, collapsing oil prices and international denunciation often lead to internationally unfavorable actions by Russia, so with a lack of progress in Ukraine and increased provocation in the Middle East, peace may not come soon to this region.