Ukraine: military (Aug '14 to mid-June '15) closed

[OUTLAW 09]

Seems that Merkel and Hollande must be in an "altered state of reality" when they pushed for Minsk 2---more civilians and Ukrainian military have been killed since that agreement than before the agreement and Russia is still not implementing their portion of the deal.

"Russian newspaper reports Russian regular troops captured Debaltseve" So how's that "Separatist forces" thing going? http://www.unian.info/war/1046595-ru...ebaltseve.html …

#Hollande: "There is danger of further escalation of conflict in eastern #Ukraine

@MoscowTimes Merkel Threatens New Sanctions if Peace Deal in Eastern Ukraine Not Upheld http://tmt-go.ru/516305

Laugh or cry? "We are not thinking of further sanctions now, we want Minsk II to be implemented" – Merkel

U.S. provided satellite evidence, even the Chamberlains in EU talked about Russian forces for the first time. No, "rebels" took #Debaltseve.

NATO top military commander Breedlove did not think the truce had ever even begun. "It is a cease-fire in name only," http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-.../26858238.html …

.@Martin_Dempsey: Russia "lit a fire of ethnicity & nationalism that actually threatens to burn out of control" http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128209 …

Chair @thejointstaff Gen. @Martin_Dempsey: Russia's actions "are threatening our NATO allies" http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128209 … pic.twitter.com/yl5tZwHaRP

[OUTLAW 09]

Novoazovsk - the last time Ukraine reported this much armor crossing here Mariupol nearly fell in what we call "Russian Invasion 1"

Zbigniew Brzezinski ✔ @zbig
Shooting themselves in the head? Putin and Yanukovich are producing a generation of Ukrainians who will passionately hate Russia

What a surprise. Russians will continue their attack from Debaltseve towards Artemivsk https://twitter.com/KFM936/status/568696362117820417 …

SBU detained Russian spy in Odessa http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/20-febr...-spy-in-odessa … #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Ix4uvf7zp0

ATGM guided at #Russia|n AFV in #Donetsk airport http://youtu.be/tBi-fmudCRA

[OUTLAW 09]

#Gazprom starts direct gas supplies to DPR, LPR in violation of contract - http://belsat.eu/en/articles/gazprom...tract-ukraine/ …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51h-EIfoQrE … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d-WNI5sG_0 … How #Ukrainians, #Russians treat each other's POWs in #Debaltseve. pic.twitter.com/5L833197KQ

#DPR already cries about #Poroschenko's measures to counter #Russia|n threat, says it violates #Minsk agreement, plans to appeal #OSCE and the leaders of Russia, France and Germany

Aftermath of a large battle between #Mius and #Chernukhyne.
Massive destruction (Ukr+Rus equip.)
pic.twitter.com/kE8j4oDr3F

Ukraine has closed 23 checkpoints on the border with Russia http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/20-febr...-on-the-border …

[OUTLAW 09]

Giant cemetery of mostly unidentified "mercenaries" found by Russian blogger in Donetsk
http://zyalt.livejournal.com/1279745.html pic.twitter.com/eUaQdSjB9c

Artemivsk became a city on the frontline. I have just heard artillery.Many soldiers in the city, a lot of heavy military equipment.

#Ukraine A pro Russian rebel tank heading towards #Debaltseve today - ceasefire called for heavy weapon withdrawal... pic.twitter.com/s3fumqE6J5

[OUTLAW 09]

EU President Tusk:
"We are clearly reaching a point when further diplomatic efforts will be fruitless."

New formulation by Merkel & Hollande: "MORE CONVINCED THAN EVER that #Minsk2 should be fully implemented." That should subdue Putin. Yep.

Russian "Grad" launchers flattening Shirokine town amid Merkel-Hollande brokered ceasefire https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVsmI...ature=youtu.be … pic.twitter.com/HBtiSDVerZ

Landsbergis "The West is so stupid that Putin doesnt have to fool them anymore" http://glavpost.com/post/20feb2015/W...-durachit.html … …

A masterful reading of the Minsk agreement, showing how much Putin actually gained: Making the Most of Minsk http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/op...agreement.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian journalist's story about Russian troops storming Debaltseve: "There are Buryatshttp://24today.net/open/317271

Ukraine Live: Kommersant Report Details Russian Servicemen 'Volunteering' In Fight For Debaltsevo. http://www.interpretermag.com/ukrain...mariupol/#6983 …

Fears grow in Mariupol as nearby Azov sea resort of Shyrokyne becomes the new "epicentre", reports @RolandOliphanthttp://fw.to/YoUKBbi

Russian Historian claims that Putin will start a Blitzkrieg in Belarus in September http://www.belaruspartisan.org/politic/296127/

Second Ukrainian Assignment of Russian Private Tukumbetov: https://en.informnapalm.org/second-u...te-tukumbetov/ … pic.twitter.com/tkhgx4BIZO

#BreakingNews
Continuing gunfire in #Mariupol over the last 2 hours is "hunt for drone" circling over the city. - Sector M command

[OUTLAW 09]

TOP-10 Military Gadgets Involved in the Russian Aggression Against Ukraine:https://en.informnapalm.org/top-10-e...-informnapalm/ … pic.twitter.com/ixG9Pua4f5

Poroshenko adviser says Russian army/rebels lost 2911 troops since Jan 2015 in Debaltseve; onward from ceasefire 868 https://www.facebook.com/yuri.biriuk...64980133770798 …

Likely-next stage,is attack on Schastye and Stanitsa Luhanska,with possible pocket-cut from RF. pic.twitter.com/Pfl6KaiXHN

#Mariupol taking urgent measures to strengthen the line of defense of the city
http://m.0629.com.ua/news/746896?utm...utm_medium=qpp …

[OUTLAW 09]

EU President Tusk:
"We are clearly reaching a point when further diplomatic efforts will be fruitless."

New formulation by Merkel & Hollande: "MORE CONVINCED THAN EVER that #Minsk2 should be fully implemented." That should subdue Putin. Yep.

Russian "Grad" launchers flattening Shirokine town amid Merkel-Hollande brokered ceasefire https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVsmI...ature=youtu.be … pic.twitter.com/HBtiSDVerZ

Landsbergis "The West is so stupid that Putin doesnt have to fool them anymore" http://glavpost.com/post/20feb2015/W...-durachit.html … …

A masterful reading of the Minsk agreement, showing how much Putin actually gained: Making the Most of Minsk http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/op...agreement.html …

What is interesting is that the Ukraine's first three ceasefires were in fact "leveraged" by the EU/US meaning getting the Ukraine to stop shooting in an attempt to get a diplomatic conversation going with Putin as was the Minsk 1 attempt. How did those three ceasefires actually achieve anything?

kraine held to the three ceasefires causing an undo amount of human loss to appease both the US/EU as they needed financial help badly. AND just how did the fourth and last ceasefire work out even more losses in civilian and military lives and for what as Russia did not hold to the agreements.

The Ukraine has held up to now the belief that it was supported by the West in it's efforts to reform, end corruption and basically break free of Russia and become an independent nation in Central Europe.

CORE question is now since in fact both Minsk 1 and 2 were failures ie Russia never implemented a single point and ended up using the agreements to take more Ukrainian territory HOW can the Ukraine now trust the West as it definitely does not trust Russia?

The Merkel Hollande luster of diplomacy is in tatters and is a blatant failure all the while it has been remarkably silent from the two leaders since the fall of Debaltseve which by the way even OSCE after rereading and rereading Minsk 2 was covered by the Minsk Agreements thus a clear violation by Russian troops and Putin.

If it was the intent of this WH to "allow" the Europeans to lead since it is an "European problem"--some how the US forgot Russia is as much against the US as the Europeans---if they are failing why is not this WH stepping back in and leading by example?

WHAT us even more remarkable is the total lack of a US response after the fall of Debaltseve---oh a few comments and verbal threats but not much more.

Final question is there in fact even a US strategy at all for Central Europe and especially Russia what the global community understands?

WHAT have we seen from this administration just in the last few days that indicates they are focused totally on Iran and anything that jiggles that adventure is basically being ignored ie the Ukraine.

Strange is it not that at the President's own international conference on terrorism the FSB/KGB Director who by the way is in the sanctions list is extended an invitation and is "allowed" to enter the US while on that list AND yet the US FBI Director was nowhere to be seen???

There has been in Europe not to subtle of comments coming out they have seen a distinct lack of engagement by the US in the Ukraine meaning NO US leadership is seen anywhere within the EU/NATO and they clearly point to the Obama legacy around Iran negotiations as the problem.

Something came out today in Europe clearly indicating that direction--it is almost like the US is simply begging the Iranians just to sign any agreement that can be trotted out as a PR win before Jan 2017.

Obama now granted Iran nuke "threshold" status as negotiating tactic to encourage them not to go farther. @ArminRosen http://www.businessinsider.com/statu...iations-2015-2 …

Can it be that US FP is now just reduced to PR? Yes it seems to be might be the answer.

In the Ukraine even Ukrainians are asking "where is the US"? By the way just as Egyptians are asking as are the Israeli's as are the Iraqi's and on and on.

If we look at the three Putin geo political goals of his FP;

1. disconnect the US from Europe
2. discredit NATO
3. discredit the EU

After Debaltseve and the so called Minsk 2 Agreement---does anyone believe Putin is not achieving those geo political goals?

Actually he is about 80% of the way to his end goals and this administration and it's weak NSC is contributing greatly to that achievement.

US leadership where is it?

[OUTLAW 09]

We investigated a pro-Russia ”troll factory” in St Petersburg. Never before seen footage: http://kioski.yle.fi/omat/yle-kioski...er-seen-before …

Oh this Russian actress is always so busy. Today in #Debaltseve as a baker. The new mayor knows from St. Petersburg. pic.twitter.com/dymUU7IQC4