In Ukraine, the ceasefire is faltering. Heavy weapons are not removed
(B2) The OSCE “ monitor the ceasefire announced Sunday, February 19 in eastern Ukraine. Lamberto Zannier has no illusions. This ceasefire does not present itself “ not very well », Considers the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This is the message he launched in New York, after an intervention at the UN Security Council, this Tuesday, February 21.
The new ceasefire was announced on Saturday evening by the heads of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Pavlo Klimkin, in Munich after a meeting in Normandy format (German, Ukrainian, Russian, French). It came into force on Monday (20 February), more than two weeks after an outbreak of violence left around XNUMX people dead in Avdiivka, a town in eastern Ukraine north of Donetsk.
Heavy weapons not yet withdrawn
« It seems that the activities are continuing. I don't have a last minute confirmation, but it's not looking very good”. The OSCE mentions, in particular, the use of small arms and explosives. But the heart of the problem is the withdrawal of heavy weapons from border areas. The OSCE observation mission observes " in different areas, the continuation of "kinetic activity" (bombardments), with the use of light weapons above all, but also, in some cases, also of explosives. Which means they are also using mortars and other heavier weapons, in violation of the ceasefire. ". Confirmation of the synchronized withdrawal of heavy artillery “Will not happen before Wednesday, at the earliest, believes the Italian. A situation he regrets, considering " the very necessary withdrawal of heavy weapons " as " a key step towards the de-escalation of the fighting ».
A risk of renewed fighting
For the head of the OSCE, the situation on the ground remains " confused "and all the ingredients" are there " for a reboot for a new phase of intense combat. " The fighting and shelling in the Avdiyivka area in recent weeks has been the heaviest in two years. »
Passport recognition at the heart of diplomatic tensions
Tensions between Ukrainians and Russians escalated last week after Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order on Saturday (18 February) to recognize " temporarily » passports issued by the separatist administration of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. A process which is reminiscent of that followed for South Ossetia as recalled by Lamberto Zannier. " IThere could be a humanitarian benefit. But the method reminds me of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. » This decision was also criticized by France and Germany, who denounced a violation of the spirit of the Minsk agreements, supposed to allow a reunification of Ukraine in return for increased autonomy granted to the East. Russian-speaking.
(Leonor Hubaut)
The routine of Russian convoys. In the daily report of February 21, the OSCE observation mission in Ukraine announces that a convoy of ten vehicles crossed the border between Russia and Ukraine at the Donetsk checkpoint at 7:20 a.m. returned to Russia around 15:30 p.m. the same day. here
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