Ukraine president under pressure to continue offensive Ukraine update July 4 2014

Ukraine president under pressure to continue offensive

In Ukraine, pro-Russian forces in the east have agreed to negotiate with the government in Kiev for a new truce. However, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has come under pressure to continue the military offensive

http://larouchepac.com/node/31202

Germany Convenes Emergency Meeting in Attempt to Stem Ukrainian Civil War

….Throughout yesterday there were reports of heavy fighting and bombardment of civilian areas in both regions of the Donbass in eastern Ukraine—Donetsk and Lugansk. Though Kiev officials stated on TV that they were attacking the regional militias with surgical precision to avoid civilian casualties, YouTube videos and on-the-ground Russian TV reports documented heavy bombing of residential areas in the Lugansk suburbs of Stanitsa Luganskaya and Staraya Kondrashkovka, far from any militia checkpoints. One entire street, including court and police buildings, was destroyed, with nine civilians killed including children. Kiev said the militias had done this, while eyewitnesses reported it was bombardment from the air.

There is a major offensive against militia positions around Slavyansk and Kramatorsk in the north of Donetsk Region, militia strongholds where the militias describe themselves as “completely surrounded” but still fighting. Residential neighborhoods continue to be pounded in Slavyansk. Today a pumping station on the Northern Donetsk-Donbass canal was destroyed, cutting the water supply to both cities, except for well water. Slavyansk, with at least 50,000 of its population still in the city, is without phone or Internet communications…….

Aftermath of shelling on residential area in Kramatorsk

Fighting continued overnight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, with several buildings damaged and at least on civilian injured.

http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/07/03/washingtons-war-crimes-spread-africa-middle-east-ukraine-paul-craig-roberts/

Washington’s War Crimes Spread from Africa and the Middle East to Ukraine

….Another risk in Putin’s bet is that by standing down and tolerating Washington’s slaughter of civilians, Putin is becoming complicit in Washington’s crimes against humanity. The longer the slaughter goes on, the more complicit the Russian government becomes. Moreover, the passage of time allows Kiev to increase its forces and NATO to supply these forces with more deadly weapons. A Russian intervention, which previously would have met with easy success, becomes more costly and more drawn out as Kiev’s forces increase.

Washington’s puppet in Kiev has made it clear that he is not going to accommodate any Russian interests or any opposition of Ukrainian provinces to the radical anti-Russian policies of Washington’s stooge government. As Washington acknowledges no responsibility whatsoever for the situation, how long can Putin wait for Merkel or Hollande to break ranks with Washington?

Putin’s alternative is to come to the defense of the Ukrainians who are being attacked. Putin could accept the requests of the rebellious provinces to rejoin Russia as he did with Crimea, declare Washington’s stooge, Petro Poroshenko, to be a war criminal and issue a warrant for his arrest, and send in the Russian military to face down the forces sent by Kiev.

Outside the West, this would establish Putin as a defender of human rights. Inside the West it would make it completely clear to Washington’s European vassals that the consequence of their alignment with Washington is that they will be drawn into war with Russia and, likely, also with China. Europeans have nothing to gain from these wars.

Sooner than later Putin needs to realize that his reasonableness is not reciprocated by Washington. Washington is taking advantage of Putin’s reasonableness, and Washington is pushing Russia harder.

Putin has done what he can to avoid conflict. Now he needs to do the right thing, as he did in Georgia and Crimea

Ukraine Air Force Bombs Civilians: Crimes against Humanity in Lugansk Oblast

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-air-force-bombs-civilians-crimes-against-humanity-in-lugansk-oblast/5389698

July 2nd 2014, Ukrainian air-force planes attacked the Stanytsa Luganskay Cossack village and the village of Kondrashovka.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-07-03/ukraines-new-interior-minister-promises-retake-crimea-russia

Ukraine’s New Interior Minister Promises To Retake Crimea From Russia

The most surprising news of the day comes not from the contested region, but from Kiev where Ukraine’s president Poroshenko appointed a new Ukraine defense minister, Valeriy Heletey. His first promise? To not only re-engage Russia in Crimea, but to be victorious in doing so. From BBC: New Ukrainian Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey has promised that the army would retake Crimea, restoring the country’s territorial integrity. “Addressing parliament in Kiev, he said: “There will be a victory parade… in Ukraine’s Sevastopol.” Lt Gen Heletey, 46, was approved by MPs in Kiev after being recommended by Mr Poroshenko as someone who would work day and night to restore the military capability of the country’s armed forces. His remark about Sevastopol was applauded by the chamber. We are confident Putin had a different, and far more amused reaction to the statement.

Three Ukrainian Policemen Shot Down In Restive Donetsk

Obama, Merkel urge Kremlin to obtain truce from pro-Russian forces

Germany and the United States have called on Russia to obtain a ceasefire from pro-Russia forces in Ukraine.

The
call was made during three-way telephone talks between German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Barack Obama and President
Vladimir Putin. Merkel and Obama are calling for an immediate ceasefire
observed by both sides. The development comes after the resumption of
Kiev’s military operation against the pro-Russians following the expiry
of a fragile ten-day ceasefire on June 30. Moscow has urged Kiev to stop
shelling cities and villages in southeastern Ukraine and reinstate a
real ceasefire. Hundreds of people have been killed in the military
campaign, which has also forced tens of thousands to escape to Russia.

 ’Ukraine bloodshed has nothing to do with EU policies’

Ukraine has come full circle with the signing of its EU association agreement, but like its turn to Russia, its return to the EU happened without a referendum. With a conflict raging in the east of the country, will the move drive the wedge deeper into Ukraine’s already bitterly-divided society? And how will austerity-stricken Europe afford it? Oksana is joined by Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, to expand on these issues.

‘Sent to Die’: Kiev’s forces in E.Ukraine raise alarm over poor ammo and rotten food

Despite Poroshenko’s promises to financially support the army, Ukrainian forces are still fed with empty promises and raise alarm over lack of basic supplies, food, and weaponry.

Poroshenko’s War

While it appears there is a commitment to a multilateral ceasefire in the country, the fighting continues. Is Kiev’s “anti-terrorist operation” in eastern Ukraine generating results beyond the killing of civilians? Is Poroshenko likely to fail as Ukraine’s new president? And where does Ukraine go from here? CrossTalking with Alexander Nekrassov, John Robles and Padraig Belton.