Ukraine: tensions rachet up.

Basically, there are two levels at which the Ukraine crisis is being fought: 1. the actual fighting on the land and 2. the terms used to envision what is happening.


1. The facts on the ground are not encouraging. In the middle of January, the govt of Ukraine launched an attack on Luhansk and Donetsk. The attack was not successful. In fact the Rebels launched a counteroffensive, pushed Ukrainian troops out of the Donetsk airport and began operations to encircle the Debaltseve 'tongue.' According to reports about 900 Rebel recruits have come beck from Russia where they received training. As I write this, artillery fire and rocket attacks continue along the front as well as government tank action.


2. Much more important is the perception of what is going on.
a. The Ukrainian govt refuses to talk to the Rebels and is willing to talk only to the Russian govt. The govt perceives the Rebs as simply representatives of Russia. The Russian govt wants the Ukrainians to negotiate some kind of federation with the Rebs.  Talk is at an impasse.


b. The Ukrainian govt is drafting a 100,000 men to escalate the fighting and is sending military cadets to the front.


c. The Ukrainian govt refuses to allow Russian vehicles to Crimea and has increased troops adjacent to Crimea. In turn, the Russians increased troop numbers in Crimea.


d. In a recent demonstration in the Ukraine, an organization was allowed to openly participate, an organization that is anti-Russain and collaborated with the Nazis during WWII.


e. Ukrainian legislators asked the EU to label Russia as "an aggressor nation," which would be equivalent to declaring war.


f. Poland announced that it has increased the number of its troops on the Russian border.


g. EU ministers are meeting to decide whether to escalate sanctions on Russia.


It is clear, is it not, that the conflict is escalating.