February 10: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has put forward an ultimatum for Putin

February 10 – Ukrainian military are returning to demarcation line as stated in Minsk agreements, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. According to Lysenko, counteroffensive operation continues. He also emphasized that situation is difficult near the city of Debaltseve, fights in the direction of Artemivsk-Debaltseve continue. February 10 – According to UN estimates, 263 civilians have died during the conflict in Donbas from January 31st to February 5th. Merkel and Obama continue to think their thoughts – have they been doing it for too long? February 10 – Seven most developed countries and the International Monetary Fund consider increasing financial assistance to Ukraine, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Total aid package could amount to up to 40 billion USD. Overall in 2014 Ukraine has received 9 billion USD of funding from various sources and has paid back 14 billion USD of dollars in debt obligations. February 10 – Russian social networks “Vkontakte” and “Odnoklassniki” are on US pirate list. February 10 – During the day the militants shelled residential districts of the city of Kramatorsk and the airfield, where ATO’s General Staff was located. 8 civilians were killed by the terrorists as a result of this attack. According to General Staff, the city was shelled from multiple launch rocket systems “Smerch”. Russian artillery poses a great danger for anything located 120 km from the front – the Russians can fire at it at any time. February 10 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko believes that the meeting in Minsk, which could be held on Wednesday in “Normandy” format”, is one of the last chances for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. February 10 – Sub-units of the National Guard in whose front guard was the special unit Azov with the support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces broke through the enemy defense in the region of the city of Mariupol. This notification was made by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov in his commentary from the place of action, transmitted RNBO Press Service. According to his report, during the attack they took under control the cities of Pavlopol Kominternove, Lebedynsk, Berdiansk, Shyrokin and others. “The enemy suffered very serious losses in the fight. In disseminating the the Russian-terrorist groupings around Mariupol, our forces guaranteed a hopeful defense of the city, protecting from artillery shells the peaceful residents,” emphasized Turchynov. February 9 – Nine Ukrainian military were killed and twenty six were injured in the ATO area on February 8th, – said Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov. February 9 – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has put forward an ultimatum for Putin – she gave Russian President Vladimir Putin time until Wednesday to agree on a “road map” to end fighting in eastern Ukraine. If Russian Federation doesn’t make concessions and decides to block the agreement, Merkel promised Putin further sanctions against Russian companies including, in particular, freezing of assets (sanctions may include defense industry and possibly financial sector). At the same time Merkel, who is publicly against the supply of arms to Ukraine, has told Putin in private that she will not resist Barack Obama if he decides to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. February 9 – Approximately 1,5 thousand Russian soldiers and 300 military vehicles have arrived from Russia in Ukraine over the weekend, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. He emphasized that Russian Federation continues to transfer ammunition to Ukraine. February 9 – During the day terrorists continuously attempted to cut off the city of Debaltseve (controlled by Ukrainian troops) from main units of Ukrainian army. Their attempts to stop transport communication at the “road of life” Donetsk-Debaltseve have failed. Prior to negotiations, which will take place in Minsk on Wednesday, the terrorists would like to occupy Debaltseve because it is an important railway junction (to strengthen Putin’s position). February 9 – Prosecutor General of Ukraine Vitaliy Yarema has been dismissed at the request of Ukrainian Parliament. February 9 – On Monday fourteen EU foreign ministers and French ambassador held a rally in Brussels demanding to release Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko who has been imprisoned by Russian authorities and is currently on hunger strike in Moscow. February 9 – Citing own sources, Brussels media report that Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has asked the EU to postpone the implementation of new sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, in Kyiv they claim that EU Council meeting could have resulted in no further sanctions introduced against Russia, whereas Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has helped to bring some sanctions about. February 9 – The conflict in Ukraine will last for a long time, until the Ukrainian authorities do not reach a negotiation with the pro-Russian fighter-separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This was stated by the President of the Russian Federation Volodymyr Putin in an interview with the Egyptian newspaper Al’ – Akhram before his visit to Egypt. He continues to force Ukraine to sit at the table with terrorists. February 9 – In Kharkiv the court found physician Olha Vorzheyinova guilty in that she cruelly attacked with her feet, the lying and wounded activist of the EuroMaidan. Olha Vorzheyinova did not admit her offense. She was sentenced to a punishment of one year and six months of curtailment of freedom. by Ivo Daalder, Michele Flournoy, John Herbst, Jan Lodal, Steven Pifer, James Stavridis, Strobe Talbott and Charles Wald Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression. 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