Monday, February 23, 2015

UKRAINE - The New Cold War, Update

"Ukraine loses key town to separatists despite cease-fire" PBS NewsHour 2/18/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia seemed in danger of unraveling after Russian-backed separatists forced thousands of Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the strategic town of Debaltseve.  Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appealed to international community to respond.  Alex Thomson of Independent Television News reports from Ukraine.

GWEN IFILL (NewsHour):  As we reported earlier, thousands of Ukrainian troops withdrew today from Debaltseve in Eastern Ukraine after a relentless assault by Russian-backed separatists.

Alex Thomson of Independent Television News reports from near the key transit hub, as the three-day-old cease-fire appeared to be unraveling.

ALEX THOMSON, Independent TV News:  The rebel flag hoisted over Debaltseve today, and across the day, hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been leaving town, telling stories that speak of just one word, defeat.

MAN (through interpreter):  It was very heavy.  We couldn’t even go to take food or water.  Yes, we were urinating in a can, all the time we were sitting in the bunker very, very heavy shelling.  We were praying all the time and said goodbye to our lives a hundred times.  They had really good and heavy artillery.

ALEX THOMSON:  Kiev says it is a tactical withdrawal with heavy weapons.  But its president is begging the world to act.



"What the defeat at Debaltseve means for Ukraine" PBS NewsHour 2/18/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The loss of the key hub town Debaltseve to Russian-backed separatists is a significant strategic and morale setback for Ukraine.  Chief foreign correspondent Margaret Warner joins Gwen Ifill to discuss potential response to the latest military action.

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