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| Russia accuses Ukraine of aiming to destroy Minsk accords | Russia accuses Ukraine of aiming to destroy Minsk accords |
| (3 months later) | |
| Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin has denounced Ukraine's call for the deployment of UN peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine as a destructive move. | Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin has denounced Ukraine's call for the deployment of UN peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine as a destructive move. |
| The Ukrainian president's call "raises suspicions that he wants to destroy the Minsk accords", Mr Churkin said. | The Ukrainian president's call "raises suspicions that he wants to destroy the Minsk accords", Mr Churkin said. |
| The Minsk ceasefire deal was reached a week ago but fighting round the strategic town of Debaltseve saw the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops there. | The Minsk ceasefire deal was reached a week ago but fighting round the strategic town of Debaltseve saw the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops there. |
| Shelling significantly increased in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Thursday. | Shelling significantly increased in the rebel-held city of Donetsk on Thursday. |
| And Ukrainian officials reported mortar attacks by separatists on the coastal town of Shirokyne, near Mariupol. | And Ukrainian officials reported mortar attacks by separatists on the coastal town of Shirokyne, near Mariupol. |
| 'Violation' | 'Violation' |
| Mr Churkin accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of seeking a new scheme instead of doing what he had signed up to. | Mr Churkin accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of seeking a new scheme instead of doing what he had signed up to. |
| "If one proposes new schemes right away, the question arises whether [the accords] will be respected", he said. | "If one proposes new schemes right away, the question arises whether [the accords] will be respected", he said. |
| The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic described the call for peacekeepers as a violation of the Minsk accords. | The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic described the call for peacekeepers as a violation of the Minsk accords. |
| The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France, the four parties to the Minsk accords, held further talks over the phone on Thursday. | The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France, the four parties to the Minsk accords, held further talks over the phone on Thursday. |
| The French presidency said the ceasefire breaches were denounced and the leaders called for "the implementation of the full package of measures agreed in Minsk" including a full ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and the release of prisoners. | The French presidency said the ceasefire breaches were denounced and the leaders called for "the implementation of the full package of measures agreed in Minsk" including a full ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and the release of prisoners. |
| Mr Poroshenko called for UN-mandated peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire after fighting continued following the rebel advance on Debaltseve. | Mr Poroshenko called for UN-mandated peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire after fighting continued following the rebel advance on Debaltseve. |
| A police mission by the European Union would be the best format for a peacekeeping operation, Mr Poroshenko said on his website. | A police mission by the European Union would be the best format for a peacekeeping operation, Mr Poroshenko said on his website. |
| It would help guarantee security "in a situation where the promise of peace is not being kept", he told an emergency meeting of Ukraine's national security and defence council. | It would help guarantee security "in a situation where the promise of peace is not being kept", he told an emergency meeting of Ukraine's national security and defence council. |
| Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent | Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent |
| Could a peacekeeping force help to secure the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine? | Could a peacekeeping force help to secure the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine? |
| Well for a start there would need to be a functioning ceasefire; nobody is going to send troops into an active war zone. Just getting agreement at the UN for such a force might be an insurmountable diplomatic hurdle. | Well for a start there would need to be a functioning ceasefire; nobody is going to send troops into an active war zone. Just getting agreement at the UN for such a force might be an insurmountable diplomatic hurdle. |
| Russia - with a key veto power on the Security Council - is not just an interested bystander. Despite its denials, it is seen by Ukraine and the West as an active participant in the conflict. | Russia - with a key veto power on the Security Council - is not just an interested bystander. Despite its denials, it is seen by Ukraine and the West as an active participant in the conflict. |
| An effective peacekeeping force paradoxically might be in nobody's interests. Peacekeepers tend to fix battle lines in place. In Ukraine both sides probably have further ambitions on the ground. The Russian-backed separatists may well want to advance further and the Ukrainian government's forces certainly aspire to take back territory that they have lost. | An effective peacekeeping force paradoxically might be in nobody's interests. Peacekeepers tend to fix battle lines in place. In Ukraine both sides probably have further ambitions on the ground. The Russian-backed separatists may well want to advance further and the Ukrainian government's forces certainly aspire to take back territory that they have lost. |
| Many experts fear there is a lot more fighting to be done whether this ceasefire is implemented or not. | Many experts fear there is a lot more fighting to be done whether this ceasefire is implemented or not. |
| Nearly 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers withdrew from Debaltseve on Wednesday. | Nearly 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers withdrew from Debaltseve on Wednesday. |
| Ukraine's army said 82 soldiers were still missing on Thursday. Rebels claim to have captured hundreds. | Ukraine's army said 82 soldiers were still missing on Thursday. Rebels claim to have captured hundreds. |
| Earlier a senior Ukrainian military official said 22 Ukrainian soldiers had died in Debaltseve over the past three days. Rebel claims of a much higher figure have been dismissed by the government. | Earlier a senior Ukrainian military official said 22 Ukrainian soldiers had died in Debaltseve over the past three days. Rebel claims of a much higher figure have been dismissed by the government. |
| Under threat | Under threat |
| The ceasefire, which officially came into effect on Sunday, has reportedly seen some heavy weaponry withdrawn by both sides. | The ceasefire, which officially came into effect on Sunday, has reportedly seen some heavy weaponry withdrawn by both sides. |
| However, the BBC's Ian Pannell in Donetsk reported a significant increase in shelling on Thursday, with artillery fire shaking buildings in the city centre. | However, the BBC's Ian Pannell in Donetsk reported a significant increase in shelling on Thursday, with artillery fire shaking buildings in the city centre. |
| Meanwhile Ukrainian military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh said rebels had attacked the town of Shirokyne with tanks and weaponry. | Meanwhile Ukrainian military spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh said rebels had attacked the town of Shirokyne with tanks and weaponry. |
| After the fall of Debaltseve the peace agreement appears to be under serious threat, our correspondent says. | After the fall of Debaltseve the peace agreement appears to be under serious threat, our correspondent says. |
| Earlier rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said Debaltseve was now "completely under the control" of the separatists, with just "scattered" pockets of resistance that were being "neutralised". | Earlier rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said Debaltseve was now "completely under the control" of the separatists, with just "scattered" pockets of resistance that were being "neutralised". |
| Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the rebels' offensive had put the wider peace agreement at risk. | Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the rebels' offensive had put the wider peace agreement at risk. |
| The White House said both the rebels and Russia had failed to live up to the terms of the Minsk agreement. | The White House said both the rebels and Russia had failed to live up to the terms of the Minsk agreement. |
| But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the rebels' actions in Debaltseve had not violated the ceasefire because it was a rebel-held city at the time of the agreement. | But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the rebels' actions in Debaltseve had not violated the ceasefire because it was a rebel-held city at the time of the agreement. |
| Most of the city's 25,000 population has been evacuated but about 5,000 civilians are still believed to be in the town. | Most of the city's 25,000 population has been evacuated but about 5,000 civilians are still believed to be in the town. |
| Fighting began in eastern Ukraine in April, a month after Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula. | Fighting began in eastern Ukraine in April, a month after Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula. |
| The UN says more than 5,600 people have been killed, but there are fears the actual death toll could be much higher. | The UN says more than 5,600 people have been killed, but there are fears the actual death toll could be much higher. |
| Ukraine's pro-Western government says Russia is supporting the separatists with troops and weapons, but the Kremlin has consistently denied this. | Ukraine's pro-Western government says Russia is supporting the separatists with troops and weapons, but the Kremlin has consistently denied this. |
| Minsk agreement: Key points | Minsk agreement: Key points |
| Do you live in eastern Ukraine or have friends and family in the region? What do you think about the recent developments? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Do you live in eastern Ukraine or have friends and family in the region? What do you think about the recent developments? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you wish to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |