Under a Ukraine cease-fire agreement reached last week, heavy weaponry was supposed to be removed from the frontline starting Tuesday. Neither Ukraine's military nor the Russia-supplied separatists fighting them are going to meet the deadline, at least in the battle for the strategically important transportation hub of Debaltseve. Associated Press reporters observed shelling by both sides on Tuesday morning in Debaltseve, and neither side appears set to move until the other goes first.
"As soon as the militants cease fire, the Ukrainian side will begin to withdraw heavy weaponry from the frontline," Ukraine military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh said early Tuesday. On a brighter note, most of the other battle zones in eastern Ukraine appear to be calm, AP reports, in a sign that the cease-fire is holding elsewhere in the country. Reuters has some footage from outside Debaltseve. —Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 educational cartoons about the Harvard pushbackCartoons Artists take on academic freedom, institutional resistance, and more
-
One-pan black chickpeas with baharat and orange recipeThe Week Recommends This one-pan dish offers bold flavours, low effort and minimum clean up
-
Merz's coalition deal: a 'betrayal' of Germany?Talking Point With liberalism, freedom and democracy under threat globally, it's a time for 'giants' – but this is a 'coalition of the timid'
-
What's behind Russia's biggest conscription drive in years?Today's Big Question Putin calls up 160,000 men, sending a threatening message to Ukraine and Baltic states
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington
-
Can Ukraine make peace with Trump in Saudi Arabia?Talking Point Zelenskyy and his team must somehow navigate the gap between US president's 'demands and threats'
-
Ukraine: where do Trump's loyalties really lie?Today's Big Question 'Extraordinary pivot' by US president – driven by personal, ideological and strategic factors – has 'upended decades of hawkish foreign policy toward Russia'
-
Is Europe's defence too reliant on the US?Today's Big Question As the UK and EU plan to 're-arm', how easy will it be to disentangle from US equipment and support?
-
Is the British Army ready to deploy to Ukraine?Today's Big Question The UK 'would be expected to play a major role' if a peacekeeping force is sent to enforce ceasefire with Russia
-
What will Trump-Putin Ukraine peace deal look like?Today's Big Question US president 'blindsides' European and UK leaders, indicating Ukraine must concede seized territory and forget about Nato membership
-
Ukraine's disappearing armyUnder the Radar Every day unwilling conscripts and disillusioned veterans are fleeing the front
