Ukrainian Soldiers Die during Truce

Ukrainian President Poroshenko declared a one-sided ceasefire in Ukraine’s war with Russia because it seems as if only Ukraine is heeding it. Russia refuses to abide by the truce and has been sending its tanks and armored attack vehicles into Ukraine. Consequently, Ukrainian troops are sitting ducks for the Russians. In the past 10 days, 27 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 69 were wounded.

This is another sign that Russia is not a worthy partner of any global endeavor – even a peace effort during that war that it started.

Several hundred Ukrainian soldiers and civic activists gathered outside the presidential administration in Kyiv yesterday to call for an end to the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, an indication that tensions remain high a day ahead of a deadline for steps toward easing the violence, reported the AP. Poroshenko has demanded that rebels return posts along the Russia border to Ukrainian control and allow international monitors to verify the ceasefire.

Poroshenko says his unilateral ceasefire is a first step to give rebels a chance to lay down their arms. Further steps would include an amnesty for separatists who have not committed serious crimes, early local elections and changes in the constitution to decentralize power to Ukraine’s regions.

European leaders have pressed Russia to help de-escalate the situation or face the possibility of additional economic sanctions. A four-way phone call was to take place Monday among Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

The four also spoke for two hours Sunday as Poroshenko struggled to get his peace plan past a wobbly start.

How can peace be given a chance when Russian terrorists violate the ceasefire? During telephone discussions between Poroshenko and Putin, Ukrainian soldiers have been killed by Russian terrorists.

Soldiers from the Donbas battalion, one of several militias formed by volunteers, appealed to Poroshenko on Sunday to allow them to resume the fight.

It is baffling that the Ukrainian President would even consider negotiating with Putin while Russian terrorists are in Ukraine, killing soldiers and civilians. Before any bilateral or multilateral discussions begin, Russian troops must lay down their weapons, Russia must withdraw its mercenary terrorists from Ukraine, and then those who wish may consider amnesty and finally they can discuss peace terms and Russian reparations.