Ukraine Crisis | Updates & Discussions | Page 2 | World Defense

Ukraine Crisis | Updates & Discussions

BLACKEAGLE

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Ukraine in maps: How the crisis spread

The crisis in Ukraine began in November 2013 when pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned a deal with the EU in favour of stronger ties with Russia.

Protests erupted in the capital Kiev and quickly escalated as government buildings were seized in cities across the western regions of Ukraine.

Protests in western Ukraine, January 2014

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On 20 February, 2014 at least 88 people were killed in 48 hours in Kiev.

Ukraine has been torn between east and west since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. While Ukrainian is the main language in western regions, Russian is predominant in parts of the east and south.

The division is also reflected in voting patterns. Mr Yanukovych received most support in the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine in the 2010 election.

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Protests spread south to Crimea

On 27-28 February pro-Russian gunmen seized key buildings in the Crimean capital, Simferopol.

Within days parliament voted to join Russia and called a referendum.

Russia later admitted that its military had helped the Crimea insurgents.

The majority of Crimea's 2.3 million population identify themselves as ethnic Russians and speak Russian - a legacy of Russia's 200-year involvement in the region.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet also has its historic base in the Crimean coastal city of Sevastopol.

On 16 March, 97% of voters reportedly backed the proposal to join Russia. That figure was later disputed, with leaked documents showing only 50-60% support for the move.

The EU and US condemned the annexation of Crimea and imposed a first round of sanctions on Russian officials and high-ranking Moscow allies in Ukraine.

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Trouble spreads east

Pro-Russian sentiment is strong in eastern regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine's industrial heartland. After the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Crimea, there were reports of large numbers of Russian troops gathering just over the border.

On 7 April protesters occupied government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv.

Although Kharkiv was retaken the following day, the occupations spread to other cities, and a number of pro-Russian leaders declared that referendums on granting greater autonomy to eastern regions would be held.

Towns targeted by separatists, April 2014

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Eastern referendum

On 11 May pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after the referendums, which were not recognized by Kiev or the West.

A build-up of Russian troops on the shared border in April sparked concern that another annexation could take place.

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Presidential election

Elections for a new president in Ukraine were held on 25 May resulting in confectionery tycoon Petro Poroshenko being elected with over 55% of the vote, although no polling stations were open in Donetsk city and several other locations.

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On 20 June President Poroshenko announced a 15-point peace plan and declared a week-long truce. It held for a few days until a military helicopter was shot down over eastern Ukraine.

With a government offensive launched once more, on 5 July rebels abandoned strongholds in the north of Donetsk region, withdrawing to a smaller area of insurgency in the south.

Malaysia Airlines tragedy, 17 July 2014
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On 17 July Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down near the village of Grabove in rebel-held territory close to the border with Russia.

Almost 300 people were killed in the crash - everybody aboard the airliner. Western nations blamed a Russian-supplied missile, believed to have been fired by rebels.

Russia denied it had armed the rebels and argued instead that a Ukrainian fighter jet had flown near the airliner at the time.

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Satellite image shows plane debris littering a wide area near the village of Grabove
Ukraine insists Russian regular forces are involved in the fighting in Ukraine. It has also accused the Russian authorities of allowing well-trained volunteers and heavy weapons to cross the border to help the rebels. Russia dismissed those accusations, yet the rebel leader in Donetsk said many Russian soldiers had joined the rebel cause.

New front

Ukrainian forces made gains in some areas previously held by the rebels. But on 27 August the rebels - allegedly backed by Russian heavy armour - opened up a new front on the coast, seizing the town of Novoazovsk and threatening the strategic port city of Mariupol.

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Ceasefire

A ceasefire was agreed on 5 September between Ukraine and the pro-Russian rebels in the east. Signed in Minsk, Belarus, it was violated just four days later when fierce fighting erupted around Donetsk airport.

The battle for the airport continued with the Ukrainians remaining in control, although the airport was now so badly damaged it closed to flights.

Elsewhere in the east there were repeated violations of the truce.

Nato announced it was setting up a rapid reaction force in response to Russia's actions over Ukraine.

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Fresh elections

On 26 October Ukrainians voted for a new parliament. Pro-West parties triumphed but the polls were boycotted in the rebel-held east - which went on to hold its own elections on 2 November.

Two pro-Russian leaders were declared the winners - but President Petro Poroshenko immediately threatened to scrap a law - agreed under the 5 September truce - which gave special status to Donetsk and Luhansk.

Ukraine's economic ties
The EU and US have imposed a series of asset freezes and travel bans on many senior Russian officials and separatist leaders.

But at least six Russian companies, including the state oil giant Rosneft and two of the country's biggest banks, have now filed complaints against the sanctions at the European Court.

Ukraine imports much of its gas and oil from Russia. About a quarter of Europe's gas also comes from Russia.

In October, Ukraine, Russia and the EU signed a deal for Moscow to resume vital gas supplies - cut off since June - in return for Kiev settling its debts, with the EU acting as guarantor.

The EU has also agreed to postpone the implementation of a free trade deal with Ukraine until January 2016, which is being seen as a concession to Russia.

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Ukraine is still heavily in debt. A rescue package offered by Russia earlier in the year was cancelled after the protesters forced out Mr Yanukovych.

The International Monetary Fund approved a $17.1 bn (£10.1 bn) bailout for Ukraine in April. With funds from other donors, including the EU, the total package will be worth £32.1bn.

But the loan was dependent on strict economic reforms, including raising taxes and energy prices.

In September the IMF warned that Ukraine could need a further $19bn in emergency funding if there was no resolution to the conflict.

But the fighting continued.

Donetsk airport falls

In January 2015, fighting between the army and Russian-backed separatists intensified in and around Donetsk as well as in Luhansk region. Both sides seemed to be battling for new ground, keen to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of any "peace summit".

On 22 January, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Donetsk airport's main terminal, the scene of weeks of bitter fighting. The airport is strategically important. Government forces have now abandoned the main part of it, from where they have been able to shell rebel positions inside nearby Donetsk - the largest city held by the militants.

Its capture could help the rebels to resupply - allowing munitions, hardware and manpower to be airlifted into the conflict zone. But drone images of the airport taken in January show how devastated the terminal building is.

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The rebels continued their offensive in February.

The fiercest fighting has been near the town of Debaltseve, where the rebels are trying to surround Ukrainian troops. The town is a crucial rail hub linking the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.

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February diplomatic push

As clashes continue there has been a renewed diplomatic push to end the fighting.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are in the capital Kiev to present a new peace initiative. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is also in Kiev, said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but would not close its eyes to Russian "aggression".

The talks in Kiev come as Nato plans to bolster its military presence in Eastern Europe in response to the Ukraine crisis - with a new rapid reaction "spearhead" force of up to 5,000 troops expected to be announced.

US President Barack Obama is said to be considering sending "defensive" weapons to Ukraine - a move Russia has warned would "inflict colossal damage to Russian-American relations".

BBC News - Ukraine in maps: How the crisis spread
 

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Now, I think I know why Ukraine itself feel necessary that they must be stopped being annexed by the Russia. Russia is so abusive. If it wants Ukraine to be their part, then they should allow its cultural growth, and they should stop imposing their own culture.
 

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Ukrainian Army has been shelling and killing civilians in Donetsk for months, this time they've landed a direct hit on a chemical plant.

Earlier, Ukrainian far-right politician and paramilitary commander Dmitry Yarosh, who is involved in the Kiev military action in southeastern Ukraine, confirmed on his Facebook page that the explosion was caused by Ukrainian artillery.

Yarosh, who is wanted by Interpol on charges of inciting terrorism, was elected to the Rada in October 2014.
 

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Video from Reuters. Article from ABC News:
As international leaders grapple with how to confront renewed violence in Ukraine, President Obama said today that the U.S. is exploring "all options" to pressure Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity -- including sending defensive arms to Kiev.

"The possibility of lethal defensive weapons is one of those options being examined," the president confirmed during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I want to emphasize that a decision has not yet been made."

In the meantime, he said, the U.S. and Europe will continue to push for a diplomatic solution.

"The 21st century cannot have us stand idle and simply allow the borders of Europe to be redrawn at the barrel of the gun," Obama warned.

Merkel -- who has been working with French President Francois Hollande to broker peace between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko -- made it clear that she opposes arming Ukraine.

"I've always said I don't see a military solution to this conflict," she said today. "We have to put all our efforts in bringing about a diplomatic solution."

"Both Angela and I have emphasized that the prospect for a military solution to this problem is always been low," President Obama said. "My hope is that through diplomatic efforts, those costs have become high enough that Mr. Putin’s preferred option is for a diplomatic solution. "

Putin is expected to meet with Poroshenko, Hollande, and Merkel in Belarus on Wednesday to discuss a tentative peace plan, similar to the one that crumbled shortly after it was signed in September.

If diplomacy fails once again, "there may be some areas where there are tactical agreements, there may not be," the president acknowledged. But "we have to show them that the world is unified in imposing a cost for this aggression."

“Russian aggression has only reinforced the unity of the United States and Germany and our allies," he said.

In a wide-ranging talk, President Obama also said it was time for Iran to "make a decision" about whether to move forward with a nuclear deal.

"At this juncture, I don't see a further extension being useful if they have not agreed to the basic formulation and the bottom line that the world requires to have confidence that they're not pursuing a nuclear weapon," he told reporters.

The president also spoke about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to Congress, which was arranged without White House consultation.

"We have a practice of not meeting with leaders right before their elections, two weeks before their elections," he explained. "I think it's important for us to maintain these protocols ... to make sure that it doesn't get clouded with what could be perceived as partisan politics."
 

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Some of the Ukrainian Army soldiers surrounded in Debaltsevo have started to surrender. Kiev is still doing nothing to pull them out. This video illustrates the severity of the situation, the Ukrainian government has sent them weapons without ammunition, no rations, they use their tools that they brought with themselves from home to repair equipment, they also use their money to repair vehicles.

 

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Some hopeful news. Looks like they managed to agree on a ceasefire after hours of talks.
Putin said both sides have agreed to pull back heavy weapons. The talks between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany took so long, he said, because authorities in Kiev still refuse to have direct contact with separatists.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking alongside French PresidentFrancois Hollande, said more work remained to be done, but "what we have on the table gives us great hope."

CNN Update on Ukraine
Ukraine ceasefire deal reached after marathon Minsk talks - CNN.com
 

BLACKEAGLE

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Rebels fighting for more territory ahead of Ukraine ceasefire: Kiev military


By Anton Zverev

DONETSK, Ukraine Sat Feb 14, 2015 12:58pm EST

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Vuhlehirsk near Donetsk, Ukraine, February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
Members of the armed forces of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic stand on top of a track outside the town of Kondratyevka near Donetsk, Ukraine, February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
A part of a roof on fire falls on a firefighter as he extinguishes a building after shelling in Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
Youths inspect a hole caused by shelling in Donetsk, Ukraine, February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
A woman inspects the damage to a window caused by shelling in Donetsk, Ukraine, February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
A member of the armed forces of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic makes a victory sign to his comrades riding a track outside the town of Kondratyevka near Donetsk, Ukraine, February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
Locals residents look on after shelling in Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
Locals residents look through a broken window of her home after shelling in Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

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Saturday, February 14, 2015
Locals residents leave a school basement after shelling in Artemivsk, eastern Ukraine February 14, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Credit: Reuters/Baz Ratner

(Reuters) - Fighting intensified in eastern Ukraine on Saturday ahead of a midnight ceasefire, with separatists pressing government forces in the key town of Debaltseve and shelling killing at least one person in the rebel-held city of Donetsk.

A Reuters media team also reported a multiple strike by shells or rockets on the town of Artmevisk, about 40 km (25 miles) north of Debaltseve and well inside government-controlled territory.

The ceasefire, negotiated in four-power talks last Thursday, forsees creation of a neutral "buffer zone" and withdrawal of heavy weapons responsible for many of the 5,000 deaths in a conflict that has caused the worst crisis in Russia-West relations since the Cold War a generation ago.

"Ahead of midnight, rebels are trying to complete tactically important plans to enlarge the territory under their control, primarily in the direction of Debaltseve," spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a televised briefing in Kiev.

Debaltseve, a strategic transport hub that lies in a pocket between the two main rebel-held regions, has been the focus of some of the fiercest recent fighting.

Four shells hit Donetsk on Saturday, blasting craters in the streets. A Reuters witness saw one dead body from the attacks.

In Artemivsk, a polyclinic and a school playground were hit, but there were no casualties reported.

Heavy shelling could be heard at a rebel checkpoint about 15 km (10 miles) west of Debaltseve, a Reuters witness said, reporting outgoing artillery rounds almost every minute.

A column of new military vehicles and artillery passed through the checkpoint in the direction of Debaltseve. The checkpoint was manned by several dozen professional-looking combatants. Tanks and armored vehicles could also be seen.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a rebel at the checkpoint said local fighters were being supported by "guests from Russia."

Spokesman Lysenko said separatist forces continued to be reinforced by fighters and military equipment crossing Ukraine's eastern border from Russia over the past 24 hours. Moscow denies bolstering the separatists with armor and troops although Western officials cite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

REGIONAL AUTONOMY PART OF DEAL

The rebels have advanced far past the line of an earlier ceasefire deal, agreed in September. The new accord appears to envisage them withdrawing their guns around 75 km, to take them back behind it, while Ukrainian guns would move 25 km back.

Thursday's four-power accord also prescribed constitutional reform to give more autonomy to eastern Ukraine, where many Russian speakers live. Kiev rejects independence for the "people's republics" the rebels have declared.

Tatyana Demchenko, deputy commander of the rebel unit in the town of Horlivka, had little faith the ceasefire would hold.

"They'll shoot at us and we have to remain silent?" she asked, holding two grenades in her hands. "Militias may receive the order not to open fire, but what - we sit and die in shelling? If they don't shoot, we won't."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the country had reached an important crossroads between war and peace.

"Either the enemy stops shooting and embarks on de-escalation ... or the enemy escalates the conflict for us and for Europe and the whole world," he said at a ceremony for border guards shown on television.

Seven Ukrainian service personnel have been killed and 23 wounded in fighting in the past 24 hours, Lysenko said.

The Group of Seven industrialized countries issued a statement late on Friday calling on all sides to refrain from actions that would hinder the start of the ceasefire.

It said G7 countries were ready to take "appropriate measures" against those who violate the agreement, an apparent threat of more punitive economic sanctions against Russia shortly.

The deal, sealed by the leaders of Germany and France after 16 hours of all-night talks in Minsk, capital of Belarus, with the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, was quickly overshadowed by escalating bloodshed on the ground.

(Additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kiev, Serhiy Karazy and Gleb Garanich in Artemivsk, writing by Alessandra Prentice and Richard Balmforth, editing by Tom Heneghan)

Rebels fighting for more territory ahead of Ukraine ceasefire: Kiev military| Reuters


 

BLACKEAGLE

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Ex-Georgian president says will coordinate Ukraine arms supplies issue

February 14, 8:38 UTC+3
"Now it is most important to help Ukraine with weapons. Over the next several days, I will be coordinating this," Saakashvili told

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Ex-Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili

© ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin

KIEV, February 14. /TASS/. Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who was appointed Friday as the chairman of Ukraine’s international consultative reform council, has said he will coordinate the issue of arms supplies to Kiev.

"Now it is most important to help Ukraine with weapons. Over the next several days, I will be coordinating this," Saakashvili told a Ukrainian TV channel.

US Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Friday the arms supplies to the war-torn Ukraine are still on the table even after this week’s signing of the new Minsk agreements.

In comments to his appointment to the post, Saakashvili, who earlier refused to obtain the Ukrainian citizenship, said: "I am a free politician and a Georgian citizen, all other proposals on getting Ukraine’s citizenship were not fitted in a whole strategy, and of course, I should return to my country," he said.

The decree published on Friday says that the council will be a consultative agency under the Ukrainian president tasked to provide proposals and recommendations on reforms in Ukraine on the basis of the best international experience.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Saakashvili, who has unique knowledge and experience and has in fact worked as a free-lance advisor on Ukrainian reforms, has finally received his official status.

President Poroshenko said Saakashvili would become "Ukraine’s representative abroad and at the same time the representative of the international community in Ukraine."

Earlier reports said Saakashvili could head the country’s newly created Anti-Corruption Bureau. However, he was not included on the published list of candidates for the post.

Saakashvili was the president of Georgia for two consecutive terms from January 2004 to November 2013. In his home country, Saakashvili is accused of embezzling state funds. In September, the property of the ex-president and his family members was arrested. Saakashvili’s personal bank accounts in Georgia were also arrested.

Eka Beselia, a leader of the Georgian Dream coalition, who chairs the human rights committee of the Georgian parliament, said that the Ukrainian authorities’ decision to appoint Saakashvili to the post was a "mistake."

"Georgia has an especially warm and friendly attitude to the Ukrainian people and Ukraine. I don’t know what reasonable advice Mikhail Saakashvili can give to this country’s president," she said, commenting on the Ukrainian media reports about Saakashvili’s appointment.

"Political tastes differ," Georgian parliament’s vice speaker Zurab Abashidze said for his part. "If I were the Ukrainian president, I would not want to have Mikheil Saakashvili as an advisor."

In December 2014, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that in 2015 he would pay a visit to Kiev to discuss bilateral cooperation issues with Ukraine’s leadership. He also said then that in Kiev he wasn't going to meet with the former Georgian officials - members of the current government of Ukraine. And in March last year, the Georgian prime minister said the current Ukrainian government should not to listen to Saakashvili’s advice. "Having in this crisis situation such an adventurer for an advisor is fraught with disastrous consequences for Ukraine," he said.
TASS: World - Ex-Georgian president says will coordinate Ukraine arms supplies issue
 

BLACKEAGLE

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Woman Grad battery commander.

http:///attachments/w46f0i4jl-o-1-jpg.193243/ http:///attachments/kwgy4szfrl0-1-jpg.193244/ http:///attachments/zuga5frg0mk-1-jpg.193245/ http:///attachments/f4jj2dg_nis-1-jpg.193247/ http:///attachments/iyl66dx9pkk-1-jpg.193248/ http:///attachments/cuyrhdnuvy0-1-jpg.193249/
 

BLACKEAGLE

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Based on 184 Training Center of the Army Academy named after hetman Sagaydachnogo ongoing training and education of military personnel, designed within the fourth wave of mobilization. The feature of this set of military service in the Ukrainian army is meticulous attention to public schooling and life support future defenders of the Motherland, which boronytymut sovereignty of our country in the east.

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The map reflecting the situation in Donbas as of 12.00 on February 9 has been released by the information and analytical center of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council.

09-02_eng.jpg
 

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Here is the latest update I found on the Ukrainian conflict.

Ukraine Update: Fighting Shifts To Mariupol; A Call For UN Peacekeepers


I am hearing on the grapevine there are several countries that want in on their conflict and to help the Ukraine, but they are being held back by the UN. Yet when I watch reports about the ceasefire it mentions only France and Spain being involved in the conferences. What is going on here?
 

Cmok

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Here is the latest update I found on the Ukrainian conflict.

Ukraine Update: Fighting Shifts To Mariupol; A Call For UN Peacekeepers


I am hearing on the grapevine there are several countries that want in on their conflict and to help the Ukraine, but they are being held back by the UN. Yet when I watch reports about the ceasefire it mentions only France and Spain being involved in the conferences. What is going on here?

The West has started a proxy war with Russia and now they don't know what to do about it. They've brought down a legally and democratically elected government and pushed a nation of 40 million into chaos. Certain parties involved are pushing for the conflict to continue at any cost.
Regarding the UN peacekeepers it seems that Poroshenko has a very short memory, just a couple of days ago he agreed in Minsk that OSCE should deploy monitors and peacekeepers (and they already have) and that UN has nothing to do with it. My guess would be that he needs a way to break the agreement and thus the ceasefire.
 
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