Ukraine disputes rebel claim that weapons pullback begins

Well the latest "facts" as you call them points to a plan for takeover from Putin hatched in feb 2014, complete with elaborated desinformation campaigns (N Gazeeta). Seems the main motives were economy. Any way this type of "rebel support" and land grabbing is simply wrong. There are other ways to work for an increased autonomy in the eastern parts. One real fact is that this Russian strategy has made the population in Donbass suffer a lot.

Sentiments He-he "rasPutin" was good fun. I think Putins tactics will not change. For now he has forced the rebels to stop and bide their time. I guess they are waiting for everything to cool down before it is time for the next tactical strike,

Before analyse you should study facts. There are Russian population in South -East of Ukraine and there are nationalistic Ukrainian governement in Kiev. So very useful study first - what is Ukraine ? Than talking about Putin or Volan de Mort

Situation is very complicated , very

Laguna, your opinion is very interesting because it's typically Western-centric. In your eyes the West is some kind of Shining Temple of Supreme Moral Authority with divine right to give moral lectures, to which all barbarians and savages must meekly heed. But you failed to see that the world is changing, and more and more countries care less and less about what the West is talking or thinking. Russia is the easiest, but not the only example. Yes, the West still has its military and economic might, but the balance is shifting not in your favour.

My guess is after Mariupol is in separatist hands the rebels will finally agree to Minsk 3.

You're probably correct, and if you think this is a good thing and live in Russia, I hope you don't like bananas or other imported goods or commonsense things like traveling abroad. Until now, Russia had been considered a country developing along western, civilized norms, a key of which is "Do not eat your neighbors." The west is rapidly reevaluating this assessment. If Putin thinks he can consume chunks of Ukraine without consequences that will last a generation, he is wrong. This is not just about sanctions; this is about the global concept of Russia. And to think that the Sochi Olympics were just a year ago - Russia's last stand on the international stage for a generation. Despite the patriotic outpouring in Russia now, likely, many will find it not worth the price before long.

He-he "rasPutin" was good fun. I think Putins tactics will not change. For now he has forced the rebels to stop and bide their time. I guess they are waiting for everything to cool down before it is time for the next tactical strike, with minimal losses (headlines). If the west continue to keep the head buried in the sand and then force Ukraine to make more concessions to convince Putin that they are peace loving, then it is very likely with a new attack in few weeks/months. Mariupol is a price target but the land connection with Crimea might be even more so.

The Russian insurgents have no intention of honouring a single word of the any 'peace plan'. This is history repeating itself, that sense of Déjà vu is reminiscent of the Polish corridor that separated Danzig, the strip of land between the German territories of Pomerania and East Prussia. Putin is engaging in the same tactics deployed by Hitler to ceate a land corridor to Crimea. Arm Ukraine correctly for the defence of Mariupol. Do whatever it takes, at the same time bring this 'new level of sanctions' into play.

Well if they are only sending in Azov then I can't imagine the rebels will have a hard time defending the city against a few hundred men.

Minsk 3? Maybe. Hard to imagine everyone sitting down again if the separatists can't be controlled.

separatists moved some heavy weapons well back from the front line Tuesday in eastern Ukraine, but the Ukrainian government disputed the rebels’ claim that a real pullback had begun.

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The Ukrainian military dismissed the rebel pullback claim and said its forces would not withdraw their weapons until a cease-fire takes hold. Ukrainian military spokesman Col. Andriy Lysenko said no Ukrainian moves to withdraw were underway

In short : Army of Novorossiya pullback heavy artillery according to Minsk 2 , Ukraine refused to do this.

Hey Kerry, why not make a Putin? Just disregard any of Russias needs and wants, and arm Ukraine up with anti-tank missiles and make the pro-russian side one big scrapyard with twisted metal. After that Ukraine can harvest the metal for use in the industry. There is no risk for human casualties since all the tanks must be remote-controlled.

So do you think the rebels will attack Mariupol?