Rumors Of A Full-Scale war Between Russia And Ukraine
Russian and Ukrainian pro-war rhetoric on the Donbass continues to grow. Both sides are reportedly fueling the conflict that erupted in 2014, although at this point it remains uncertain if increased shelling and sniper fire will lead to a major war between the two countries.
According to reports, four Ukrainian soldiers have died and two others were injured on March 26 as a result of shelling. Kyiv constantly accuses Russia of attempting to sabotage the Minsk Agreements, signed in the Belarusian capital in 2015 by representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, as well as the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic. The document effectively ended all military offensives, although a comprehensive ceasefire, which was one of the major points of the so called Minsk II deal, has never been established. The region has been stuck in positional warfare, and there are speculations that large-scale hostilities will continue in the coming months.
In the meantime, Russian and Ukrainian leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, could sign another truce agreement, although it is improbable that it would be implemented on the ground. Kyiv and Moscow are also expected to keep playing the blame game and sharpening their rhetoric. For instance, the very term “the Donbass” could soon become a matter of another dispute between the two countries. Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Aleksey Danilov urged media not to call Donetsk and Lugansk regions “Donbass”, since this word is “a narrative imposed by the aggressor country”.
“The word ‘Donbass’ does not exist in any regulatory document of our country. It is a definition that is being imposed on us by the Russian Federation. There are clear names for the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. There is no Donbass” – said Danilov.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly signed a decree that outlines Kyiv’s plans for the return of not only the Donbass but also Crimea under Ukrainian sovereignty. Such actions would likely lead to a direct military confrontation with the Russian Federation, given that the Kremlin leaders have pointed out on several occasions that they would “protect the Donbass”.
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