Eastern Ukraine: Reports of an exchange of fire between the Ukrainian army and separatists

From the local administration of Donetsk, a sudden aggravation of the situation in the Eastern Ukraine, amid US accusations that Russian troops have not left their posts but instead are strengthened.

From the separatists, the accused is Ukrainian army for attempted active activity against the separatist lines and there was an exchange of fire, as reported by OPEN correspondent Thanasis Avgerinos.

As reported by the Thanasis Avgerinos, aggressive movements of the Ukrainian army are also observed in the Luhansk, the lower area of the Eastern Ukraine controlled by separatists. According to Yan Leshchenko, head of the Luhansk People's Militia, «in the last 24 hours the situation on the contact line has deteriorated significantly. The enemy, under the direct command of the Kiev civil-military leadership, is trying to escalate the conflict».

It remains to be seen whether the latest developments are part of a broader plan by the Ukrainian army to attack the eastern provinces, or are ordinary skirmishes with separatists such as those that have been happening in recent years.

Kiev denies

The Ukrainian army denied today that it had targeted pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. «Despite the fact that our positions came under fire from banned weapons, including 12-millimeter guns, Ukrainian troops did not respond to the fire,» a Ukrainian armed forces spokesman told Reuters.

Lies about Russian withdrawal, says the White House

In a parallel development, to increase the Russian military forces on the border with Ukraine by 7,000, the United States accuses Moscow, while the White House describes as «false» the announcement of withdrawal of forces from some areas.

«Yesterday the Russians announced that they have withdrawn troops from the border with Ukraine (...). We now know that this is false. In fact we have now confirmed that in recent days Russia has increased its presence along the Ukrainian border by up to 7,000 troops, some of whom arrived today» (ed: yesterday, Wednesday), he insisted, speaking on condition that he not be named to journalists.

Ο US official also stressed that the Moscow could «at any time» carry out an operation that would serve as a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine and added: «η Russia says it wants to find a diplomatic solution, but its actions suggest otherwise.» «We hope she will change direction before she launches a destructive war.».

According to the official, the operation to find a pretext can take «different forms», such as a «challenge» to Donbas Region or an alleged «invasion» of Russian territory.

Noting that he expects «more fake news from the Russian state media in the coming days,» the official stressed, «we hope people will be ready.».

New round of talks ahead?;

At the same time, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov may have a new round of talks after Washington receives Moscow's response to the U.S. letter on the so-called security guarantees Russia is seeking, a State Department spokesman said Ned Price.

«Once we get that (Russia's response), I think it will be an opportunity for the two of them (Blinken and Lavrov) to communicate again,» Price told the US network MSNBC. The State Department spokesman added that no phone call or meeting between the two diplomats has been scheduled so far.

What Stoltenberg said

In his statements at yesterday's NATO Defence Ministers« Conference, the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, expressed his concern about the concentration of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border, stressing that »this is the largest concentration of forces in Europe since the Cold War". He said that Russia has concentrated over 100,000 troops and very heavy equipment in the region.

«There are signs from Russia that diplomacy must continue, but so far we see no sign of a de-escalation. No withdrawal of troops or equipment,» he said.

The «global implications» of possible sanctions

Πάντως η αμερικανίδα υπουργός Οικονομικών Τζάνετ Γέλεν αναγνώρισε ότι η επιβολή μαζικών κυρώσεων στη Ρωσία από τις ΗΠΑ και τους συμμάχους τους σε περίπτωση ρωσικής εισβολής στην Ukraine θα είχαν «παγκόσμιες επιπλοκές» κατά τη διάρκεια συνέντευξης που παραχώρησε στο Γαλλικό Πρακτορείο.

«Προφανώς, θέλουμε η πίεση να ασκηθεί πάνω απ’ όλα στη Ρωσία. Όμως αναγνωρίζουμε ότι οι κυρώσεις αυτές θα έχουν επίσης παγκόσμιες επιπλοκές», είπε η υπουργός Οικονομικών του Τζο Μπάιντεν αναφερόμενη στο «πακέτο κυρώσεων» με στόχο πρόσωπα και εταιρείες του χρηματοοικονομικού τομέα που προετοιμάζει η Ουάσινγκτον σε συντονισμό με τους Ευρωπαίους.